IOC ‘suspends discussions’ with India for hosting global events

TIL Desk Sports/ The denial of visas to Pakistani shooters in the Delhi World Cup has jeopardised India’s chances of hosting the Olympics or any global event with the International Olympic Committee suspending all such discussions with the country and recommending that no big tournament be awarded to it. India denied visas to Pakistani shooters for the World Cup that starts on Saturday in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, which killed 40 CRPF personnel. As a result, the IOC revoked the two Olympic quotas on offer in the men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol competition of the event.  

However, the bigger repercussion was the world body’s declaration that it would not engage with India on discussions to host major events. The country aspires to host the 2026 Youth Olympics, the 2032 Summer Olympics and the 2030 Asian Games.  The Indian Olympic Association has already sent an expression of interest to the IOC for the 2032 Games and the bidding process for the 2026 showpiece is expected to start next year.

The IOC said its stand against the country will remain until clear “written guarantees are obtained from the Indian government to ensure the entry of all participants in such events in full compliance with the rules of the Olympic charter.”  “This situation (at the ISSF World Cup) goes against the fundamental principles of the Olympic charter, in particular the principles of non-discrimination…,” the IOC stated after a meeting of its executive board in Lausanne on Friday evening.  “As a result, the IOC executive board also decided to suspend all discussions with the Indian NOC and government regarding the potential applications for hosting future sports and Olympic-related events in India…,” it added.