Italy in danger of facing Olympic ban

LAUSANNE: Italy’s place at next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo is in danger after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) warned the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) of “serious concerns” about a proposed new sports law.

The letter, which was addressed to CONI president Giovanni Malago and has been seen by AFP, said the legislation “would clearly affect the autonomy of CONI”.

The letter, disclosed Tuesday in the Corriere de la Serra newspaper, recalled the fundamental principles of Olympism whereby membership of the Olympic movement “requires compliance with the Olympic Charter and recognition by the IOC.”

James Macleod, director of Olympic Solidarity and NOC Relations, who signed the letter, said the new legislation would not conform to the Olympic charter.

He suggested amendments to the draft decree and emphasised that CONI should not, as the draft law proposes, be reorganised by “unilateral decision from the government.”

“CONI should be an autonomous and legally independent organisation governed primarily by the Olympic Charter and its own statutes, within the framework of the applicable laws under which it is legally registered in the country,” he said.

Contacted by AFP, a CONI official said the situation was “complicated” after Italy’s parliament adopted framework legislation late Tuesday following the publication of the letter.

The legislation authorises the government to bring in reforms to the organisation of Olympic sport. But lawmakers insisted that the independence of CONI would be respected.

“We succeeded in passing a non-binding resolution which authorises the government to exercise its prerogatives while respecting the Olympic Charter,” Senator Claudio Barbora was quoted as saying by the Italian media.