|
 The resolution adopted by the U.N. General Assembly states it
supported the independence and autonomy of sport as well as the
mission of the IOC in leading the Olympic Movement.
"We highly welcome this resolution as a historic milestone in the
relations between sport and politics," IOC President Thomas Bach
said in a statement on Monday.
"We must form partnerships with political organizations based on
this recognition of the autonomy of sport," said Bach, who has spent
a considerable amount of his 13 months in charge forging stronger
ties with global politicians.
"The excellent relations between the U.N. and the IOC can in this
respect serve as an example for relations on the national level
between National Olympic Committees and national governments. This
relationship with governments requires that sport always remains
politically neutral," he added.
 The IOC is eager to have self-governance reinforced to avoid any
interference with national Olympic bodies over which the authority
has and wants to maintain sole control.
Past political disputes have spilled over into the Olympics, most
famously leading to the United States and then Soviet Union boycotts
at Moscow in 1980 and Los Angeles four years later.
The IOC has also banned nations from competing at the Olympics over
what it saw as government interference in those countries' sports
system.
[to top of second column] |
The U.N. resolution also said any form of discrimination was
incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.
The IOC, which came under fire over a Russian anti-gay propaganda
law in the run-up to this year's Sochi Winter Olympics, has also
included an anti-discrimination clause in its host contract for
future candidate cities.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by John O
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
