Sports Minister Alieu K. Jammeh |
Gambia’s
Sports Ministry has said it abhors the distasteful tone of language used in a
letter by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) addressed to the Gambia
National Olympic Committee last week.
While
exhorting the Gambia Government not to interfere with the affairs of the GNOC,
the IOC called a sports tribunal established by the Youth and Sports Minister
“so-called” in the wake of the publication of the tribunal’s findings on last
year’s GNOC elections.
However,
the Sports Ministry in a letter addressed to the IOC President, Jacque Rogge, said
it condemns the “undiplomatic threats” embedded therein.
“In
the fulfillment of its core mandate within the provisions of national laws,
regulations and policies, the ministry will not be swayed by a local or
international body that does not intend to comply or support in redressing the
abnormalities in the country,” the permanent Secretary, Mr. Mambanyick Njie
said.
He
added: “The only sure thing that IOC letter has been able to achieve is making
it almost impossible for any negotiations with the GNOC to take place.”
The
ministry said it has “no interest” in interfering with the affairs of the GNIOC
but “shall always intervene” to restore constitutionality in the management and
delivery of any sports in the country in the event of any violation of the laws
or the statues governing such association or committee.
The Farce
On
June 12, 2012, the Sports Ministry revived the “ill-fated crisis” that followed
the February 2011 elections of the GNOC, by calling it “a farce.”
The
sports ministry’s stance followed the release of findings by a sports tribunal
it setup to look into last year’s GNOC elections which saw Mr. Alhagie Momodou
Dibba take the reins at the expense of Mr. Abdoulie Bax Touray who boycotted
the polls.
“Such
an election without the supervision of the National Sports Council which is
mandated to do so by law could best be described as a farce,” the sports
ministry, headed by Mr. Alieu K. Jammeh, said.
While
warning it will take “appropriate, responsive and responsible action” in due
course, it added: “The credibility of the election of February 12, 2011 was
largely diminished as a result of voting by non- eligible voters.”
So-called Tribunal
However,
two-days later, the Swiss-based offices of the world’s Olympic sports governing
body, the IOC wrote to the GNOC saying “This so-called sports tribunal
appointed by a government body has no authority to interfere with the internal
operations of your NOC, including election process.”
The IOC takes a dim view of governmental
interference in the affairs of national Olympic committees (NOCs) which enjoys
autonomy.
The
IOC NOC Relations Director, Pere Miro noted they are aware that Gambia Sports
Ministry-appointed sport tribunal has issued a number of recommendations
questioning the outcome and results of last year’s GNOC general assembly.
The
IOC reiterated the fundamental principle of autonomy of the NOCs, saying “an
NOC is not a public or government body.”
It added that Gambia’s national sports legislations are incompatible
with the basic principles of the Olympic Charter, should such existing rules
give power to government authorities to interfere with the internal operations
of the country’s NOC.
While
exhorting for the revision of the sporting laws of the Gambia, the IOC and the
African National Olympic Committee Association (ANOCA), said they’ll
immediately react and take appropriate measures to protect the autonomy of the
GNOC in accordance with Rule 27.9 of the Olympic Charter, should the government
take concrete measures against it.
Rule
27.9 of the Olympic Charter which states: Apart from the measures and
sanctions provided in the case of infringement of the Olympic Charter, the IOC
executive board may take any appropriate decisions for the protection of the
Olympic Movement in the country of an NOC including suspension of, or
withdrawal of recognition from such NOC if the constitution, law or other
regulations in force in the country concerned, or any act by any governmental
or other body causes the activity of the NOC or the making or expression of its
will to be hampered.
London Olympic Threat
The
IOC said it will not be forced to take measures which would regrettably affect
the representation of the Gambian delegation and athletes in the London 2012 Olympic
Games which are fast approaching, but hopes that the government authorities
will understand the “seriousness” of this issue.
Meanwhile,
the legal counsel of the GNOC, Ida Drammeh, has filed a suit in the high court
against the sports tribunal report seeking among other things to establish the
independence of the GNOC, the privately-owned The Standard Newspaper reported on Thursday.
Gambia’s
sports ministry has been able to dissolve the “autonomous” elected Committee of
the Gambia Football Association (GFA) on March 2, 2012 and faced head-on
football’s world governing body’s (Fifa) threats of severe sanctions and get
away with it.
But
observers say the world’s Olympic sports governing body is less likely to
entertain them in such fashion as Fifa.
Written by Modou S. Joof
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