Kenyan Olympic Constitution Fails to Pass -- NOCs News

(ATR) The IOC Executive Board may take action against the Kenyan Olympic Committee (NOC-K) after votes for a new constitution failed.

An extraordinary session of the NOC-K was held today in Nairobi, in hopes to pass a new constitution to implement an IOC-approved roadmap to new NOC elections. The constitution required a two-thirds majority to be passed. All 19 representatives from Kenyan sport federations voted in favor of the constitution, with the 13 member executive board voting against the proposal, according to local reports.

Representatives from the IOC and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) were present for the vote. Neither the IOC nor ANOCA returned requests for comment surrounding the vote.

The IOC has repeatedly expressed concern over the lack of autonomy for the NOC, especially after serious allegations against senior leadership following the Rio 2016 Games. Numerous NOC-K officials have been questioned for embezzling funds and athletic apparel from the Olympic team. In total five NOC-K officials were arrested, after which the government dissolved the NOC citing "mismanagement."

"The observers looked very upset and my fear is Kenya is in for a big problem," Barnaba Korir, Athletics Kenya Nairobi Branch chairman, was quoted as saying to Citizen TV. "The circular that was sent by the IOC was clear on the road map to adopting this Constitution and they were very clear on the consequences that will happen. All communication they have had since last year, they were given until the end of this month to adopt the constitution."

NOC-K President Kipchoge Keino told reporters in Nairobi that elections would now happen in June following the vote.

"If you put politics in sports, then we are not building this country," Keino was quoted as saying. "Athletes were not mistreated. If the team was mistreated, they would not have come home with six gold, six silver and one bronze, the team was taken care of and performed well."

GNOC Remembers Former President

The former president of the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) Alhagie Momodou Dibba has died on Feb. 25 in the country's capital of Banjul.

The late Dibba served as GNOC president for five years, was president of the Gambia National Draughts Association as well as the longest-serving secretary general of the Gambia football association.

At the end of his GNOC presidency Dibba lead the country's sports delegation at the Rio Games. The delegation consisted of two athletes including a swimmer and a judoka.

Gambia Football Federation Technical Director Ebrima N. Manneh describes Dibba as "a great sports personality, patron of the game of football, an exemplary sports personality and a humble human being" in a statement.

"Sport will miss him and people in his circle will definitely miss him. As a country, we will miss him," Manneh adds.

His burial was held on Feb. 26 at the Old Jeshwang cemetery in Banjul.

TOC to Develop Youth through 'Support for Sport' Project

The Turkish Olympic Committee has teamed up with the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality to launch the "Support Through Sport" project for Syrian youth.

The opening ceremony of the event welcomed 300 children aged 6-12 who received sports shoes, tracksuits and shirts from all parties involved.

The project, financed by the International Olympic Committee emergency fund for refugees, intends to help in the development of the children's physical and social skills enabling them to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.

TheGaziantep Metropolitan Municipality has transformed and restored a portion of its community center that will now be used as the project's home.The TOC have also hired translators, trainers and more to further assist the project.

"With the "Support Through Sport" project, we are dedicated to boosting the education of thousands of Syrian children," TOC presidentUğur Erdener said in a statement.

"We believe the project will help integrate them into our country, enabling them to be able to socialize and to strengthen their physical well being."

USOC Hosts Board of Directors Meeting

The USOC will host a board of directors meeting on Mar. 9 in Colorado Springs, USA.

Following the meeting, chief executive Scott Blackmun, chairman Larry Probst, and members of the LA 2024 bid team are expected to hold a conference call with the media.

Written by Aaron BauerandCourtney Colquitt

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