The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has laid down three conditions before the joint representatives from National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Sports in order to safeguard the Olympic values of independence in governance of sports federations.
These conditions, revising of Sports Law 1973 and the specific government regulations gazetted in January 2013, revising of the respective constitutions of national sports federations in accordance with the International Federations’ standard and the revising of the constitution of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka to ensure full compliance with the Olympic Charter. The IOC grants a grace period of six months to comply with the revision of the Sports Law which, it says could be completed in nine months.
The decisions were reached following a cordial meeting with official of the IOC, NOC and the Ministry of Sports at the IOC headquarters on Wednesday. The nominations received for the NOC elections which were to be held on 27 December 2013 will now have to be resubmitted, only after the amendments have been agreed upon by the parties concerned.
The IOC and all its partners are very confident that this process will provide a great opportunity for all national sports organisations in Sri Lanka to review their governance and operate in accordance with both the rules of the Olympic Movement and the laws of the land.
In addition, it is expected that this process will establish a solid basis for developing harmonious relations and fruitful cooperation between the government authorities and the Olympic Movement in Sri Lanka, with full respect for the autonomy, jurisdiction and responsibilities of each entity.
Agreements reached:
The sports law (in force since 1973) will be revised within nine months, and the specific government regulations derived from the sports law will be reviewed within six months in order to make them compatible with the basic principles which govern the Olympic Movement. To that effect, and to ensure proper consultation with all concerned parties, a working group will be established immediately between the Sports Ministry and the NOC/national sports federations, also involving the IOC (representing the Olympic Movement as a whole).
All national sports federations will have to liaise with their respective International Federations to review their constitutions/statutes in accordance with the International Federations’ standards and the principles of the Olympic Movement. This process must be completed within six months under the supervision of each International Federation concerned, which will also decide, on a case-by-case basis once this process is completed, whether new elections will be required in the respective national federations.
The NOC Constitution to be reviewed with the IOC in order to ensure full compliance with the Olympic Charter and the IOC’s requirements. Then, the revised draft Constitution will have to be submitted to the NOC General Assembly for adoption, and be approved formally by the IOC. The new NOC Constitution will serve as a basis to conduct the NOC elections. This process (including the revision of the NOC Constitution and the NOC elections) will also be completed within six months. Until the NOC elections take place, the current NOC’s office-bearers will remain in place.
