USOC Says Sport Safe from Trump Immigration Ban

(ATR) The United States government says it will work with the United States Olympic Committee to allow athletes from the seven banned countries in President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration to compete in the U.S.

"Recognizing the extraordinary power of international sport to bring people together in a peaceful celebration of friendship, excellence and respect, the U.S. government has today advised us that it will work with us to ensure that athletes and officials from all countries will have expedited access to the United States in order to participate in international athletic competitions," USOC chairman Larry Probst and CEO Scott Blackmun said in a statement Monday afternoon.

The USOC executives said they had received numerous questions regarding the executive order and the impact it could have on international sport in America. The U.S. will hold several world championships and other major international sporting events throughout 2017 that will likely includes athletes from the countries of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen.

The executive order has been met with protests across the country and backlash around the world, yet the world leader of international sport is keeping mum on the topic. The International Olympic Committee said in a statement it does not "comment on the politics of sovereign countries".

Around the Rings has contacted several IOC members who have either refused to comment or not responded to the requests. Thus far, the only IOC member seeking to make a statement regarding the ban is Richard Peterkin of St. Lucia. Peterkin lambasted the executive order by the Trump administration on Twitter, calling the ban "totally contrary to Olympic ideals".

Outside of world championships in the country this year, the USOC must also ensure that the executive order doesn’t sour IOC members on its bid for the 2024 Olympics from Los Angeles. Los Angeles is competing against Budapest and Paris to stage the Summer Games with an election set for Sep. 13 in Lima, Peru.

The White House did not reply to request from comment from ATR regarding the immigration ban’s potential impact on the U.S. Olympic bid.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has already spoken out against the new policy, saying it only "fans the flames of hatred that those who wish us harm seek to spread".

"Los Angeles will always be a place of refuge, where the most vulnerable people fleeing war, or religious or political oppression, can find a safe and welcoming home," Garcetti said in a statement. "Congress outlawed the banning of immigrants by nationality more than 50 years ago, because we have long known that it does not make us safer."

As with the USOC, the Los Angeles bid will also work with the State Department to ensure international athletes and officials have easy access to the country. The LA 2024 bid book details how athletes will be admitted to the country during the Games.

The bid says the U.S. has a long history of expediting the visa process for Olympic athletes and officials, including the U.S.’s most recent Olympic Games in Salt Lake City in 2002 and Atlanta in 1996. Following Salt Lake City 2002, the USOC worked with the State Department to develop the Olympic Leaders Traveler Program to facilitate this process.

"The OLTP expedites the visa, customs and immigration processes for all Olympic and Paralympic leaders traveling to or through the United States so that they may obtain visas and clear immigration checkpoints quickly and easily," the LA 2024 bid book reads.

The program has also been utilized by the USOC for events outside of the Games, such as last year’s Association of National Olympic Committees General Assembly in Washington, D.C. LA 2024 says the program expedites thousands of visas per year.

"LAOCOG will continue to work with DHS and the State Department to improve the program and make entry into the United States as streamlined and efficient as possible."

Homepage photo: Getty Images

Written by Kevin Nutley

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