Chronicle Editor
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board suspended the Olympic Committee of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (PRK NOC) until the end of 2022 on Wednesday for boycotting the Tokyo Olympic Games.
“The PRK NOC will not be entitled to benefit from any assistance or programme from the IOC during the period of suspension. Should any athlete(s) from the PRK NOC qualify for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 through the qualification process in force, the IOC EB will take an appropriate decision in due course for the athlete(s) concerned. The IOC EB reserves the right to reconsider the duration of the suspension at its discretion,” reads the statement announcing the suspension.
The statement said despite various communications and discussions held between the IOC and the PRK NOC over the months preceding the Olympic Games, with reassurances for the holding of safe Games and constructive proposals to find an appropriate and tailor-made solution until the very last minute (including the provision of vaccines), all that was systematically rejected by the PRK NOC.
By not participating in the Olympic Games, the PRK NOC failed to fulfil one of the fundamental duties and obligations of an NOC, as in Rule 27.3 of the Olympic Charter, which states: “The NOCs have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games and at the regional, continental or world multi-sports competitions patronised by the IOC. In addition, each NOC is obliged to participate in the Games of the Olympiad by sending athletes.”
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