Is it justice to decline the attendance of Libyan athletes in the 2012 Olympic Games on the basis of the political chaos being witnessed by the country? Or, would it be a mistake to provide the tickets to Libyan Olympic Committee which is headed by Colonel Gadaffi’s son and risk the safety of the Games?
These two questions are literally haunting the British Government which has to bear the fact that 2012 Olympic Games have become a ‘PR Event‘. Just as the Royal Wedding attracted millions of visitors, the Olypmic Games is going to be an even bigger event. The greater the event, the higher the responsibility that couples it.
Currently, the Libyan government is not welcomed at the 2012 Olympic Games.
‘Troubled waters for the IOC’
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is definitely in troubled waters, as of now. To start with, it was founded by French pedagogue Pierre de Coubertin and includes 205 national countries in its list. in 2012, the games would be held in London. Sarcastically, one of the reasons for starting this international tournament was to foster peace and international communication.
Article 2 of Chapter One of the Olympic Charter states that the main motto of the tournament is to promote Olympism and uphold the ethics in sports, encourage participation and support the development of the sport.
Thus, IOC had no option but to provide tickets to the Libyan Olympic Committee which is headed by Colonel Gadaffi’s son Muhammad al-Gadaffi. Recently, the leaked news that Muhammad demanded for 1000 tickets through his personal connections irrespective of the fact that Britain and NATO are involved in bombing his own country, caused a major furore.
Also, the Britons themselves would not take this news with maturity, especially when ‘one million Britons missed out on the tickets’
‘IOC in its Defence’
The David Cameron Government has certainly started putting pressure on the IOC regarding the entire ‘tickets fiasco’. To start with, other Pariah countries such as Zimbabwe and Burma have also been invited.
No doubt, this would be a huge embarrasment for Britain if these countries attend the Olympic Games, especially taking into consideration that the innocent citizens in these nations are being butchered in uprisings.
Hence, IOC stated in its defence that it had to adopt the neutral stand so that the athletes do not suffer the brunt of the uprisings and tensions being inculcated in these nations with the Western super powers.
Jacques Rogge, the head of IOC had declined to comment on the case. Though, Mark Adams, the director has stated that IOC is waiting for the ‘clear situations’.
‘Safety’
More than anything, even the safety of the 2012 Olympics is a matter of great concern. Its a thought worth pondering that if the members of the Libyan Gadaffi regime enter into the British capital, would they avoid causing any kind of disaster?
And if there is a doomsday, would the IOC take the responsibility of it?
Also, would this responsibility bring back the loss of lives, if it happens, in any case.
One of the IOC spokesperson have stated that ‘no ticket has been printed or paid for, till now.’
In a nutshell, is Libya in the condition of supportings its own athletes and training them, at this very moment? I doubt if the conditions would change in the coming months and days, with the entire country being eroded with bombing.
shubhdachaudhary 