Sports leaders from South Sudan, Sudan and IOC executive members could not hold back tears as the global Olympic Committee accepted the country by acclaim at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
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He said, “Without question the IOC and the Olympic Movement must continue to evolve and attract youth, including vital new audiences in fast-growth markets… where your values and mission to make the world a better place through sport can and will change lives”. South Sudan is now recognized for athletics (track and field), basketball, soccer, handball, judo, table tennis and tae kwon do.
The country has been gripped by civil war for 19 months and the conditions have made it virtually impossible for athletes to train properly. “This will promote reconciliation and national unity”, said South Sudan’s Olympic chief Wilson Kuoirot.
A South Sudanese marathon runner, Guor Marial, did compete at London 2012 but under the Olympic flag as South Sudan was not yet an IOC member. Thousands of civilians in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state face starvation after the government blocked aid groups from using the Nile River to deliver relief food, aid agencies said late last week.
“We have nothing, we are starting from scratch”, said Deran, who spoke of how the committee hoped to “empower” young athletes like Hasan.
But IOC President Thomas Bach says Blatter informed him by letter on July 23 that he would not stand again.
“We look forward to welcoming you to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro where for the first time in your history, you will march behind your national flag”, Bach added. “We are going to take care of her like a daughter”. The nascent Olympic committee hopes that basketball, volleyball and handball teams could also go to Rio next year, if they can get help.
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South Sudan has never competed in an Olympics games before.
