Suresh Kalmadi might be facing intense pressure from various quarters here to cancel his London Olympics trip, but the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said that it is not going to stop him from attending the IAAF Council meeting in the British capital.
IAAF deputy general secretary Nick Davies told PTI that the world body does not see anything wrong in Kalmadi attending its council meeting in London.
“Kalmadi is an elected member of IAAF Council so logically, he is invited to attend the council meeting in London,” Davies said.
“As far as we are aware, his legal case is ongoing and he has not been convicted of any wrongdoing,” he said.
Davies said that two IAAF Council meetings are being planned in London during the Olympics — on July 31 and August 10.
A Delhi court’s permission for Kalmadi’s visit to London had kicked up an uproar with the Sports Minister Ajay Maken asking him to desist from doing that and a body of former athletes even writing to the International Olympic Committee to cancel his accreditation.
Keywords: Suresh Kalmadi, 2012 London Olympics
It is shame on Indian govt part to even consider sending kamaldi to Olympics. It defeats the
very purpose of sports. Tomorrow Indian govt might even consider sending a terrorist to an
important event quoting the case is going on ; but he or she is not yet convicted. Starnge
decision!!!!!!
Well, the IAAF can suspend him till the charges are cleared.
Govt can take away his White Passport (diplomatic passport) and let him pay for his trip and let the Olympic Association know that he is visiting as a ordinary citizen. Why should taxpayer's money be used for the criminal's free trip. As as Krishna said, if it would have been an oridinary person out on bail - he/she would have been detained at the airport or the person would have to surrender the passport so that he/she cannot go out of country.
Mr Kalamadi, as an elected representative, should reconsider his
decision, particularly as the Sports Minister has said that his
attendance at the Olympic Games would damage India's reputation, and
very likely demotivate the Indian competitors. And can Mr Kalamadi be
certain of a genuinely warm and respectable welcome by other Olympic
Committee Members if he insists on exercising his ex-officio right to
attend?
However, if Mr Kalamadi sticks to his decision to attend, come what
may, it would not surprise the citizens of India, because if their
elected representatives had that much wisdom or sense of honour, the
country's reputation for probity would not be in such tatters as it is
now.
I think if they wanted the Govt could move the courts to prevent him from leaving. Would an ordinary person released on bail be allowed to go abroad for any reason let alone to enjoy a free trip to the Olympics?
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