- Title: OLYMPICS-IOC/SOUTH SUDAN South Sudan to join Olympics
- Date: 28th July 2015
- Summary: REPORTERS ADAMS REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) SPOKESMAN MARK ADAMS SAYING OF SOUTH SUDAN'S APPLICATION TO JOIN THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT: "No, no opposition. I think it was a good presentation by Pere Miro from the NOC (National Olympic Committee) department and it obviously needs to go to the session for rectification. But, ya, no opposition" REPORTER JOTTING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (English) ADAMS SAYING: "The Olympics is all about bridging gaps, building bridges between different communities. This a great signal to send in a troubled region" VARIOUS OF ADAMS AT NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 12th August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Malaysia
- Country: Malaysia
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA4YB0NMORQGXL5D647XZO1SHCU
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: South Sudan is set to become the 206th member of the Olympic movement, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesman said on Tuesday (July 28).
The IOC Executive Board meeting in Malaysia made the recommendation on Tuesday and a full vote wil be taken on Sunday ((August 2), said spokesman Mark Adams.
South Sudan's case was put to the board by the IOC's own head of relations with National Olympic Committees (NOC), Pere Miro and Adams told a news conference on Tuesday everyone accepted it.
"No, no opposition. I think it was a good presentation by Pero Miro from the NOC (National Olympic Committee) department and it obviously needs to go to the session for rectification. But, ya, no opposition," said Adams in Kuala Lumpur.
Thousands of people have been killed and more than 2.2 million displaced since fighting broke out in South Sudan in December 2013, two years after independence, between President Salva Kiir's government and rebels commanded by Riek Machar.
Both sides have been accused of human rights abuses and indiscriminate killings, which have often been carried out along ethnic lines, with Kiir's Dinkas pitted against Machar's Nuers.
The IOC's Adams said Olympics involvement might help restore peace.
"The Olympics is all about bridging gaps, building bridges between communities. This a great signal to send to a troubled region."
South Sudanese marathon runner Guor Marial competed at the London 2012 Olympics, but did so under the Olympic flag after refusing to run for Sudan. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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