NOC unhappy over NSA merger

KATHMANDU, July 5: Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC), recognized by International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), has expressed dissatisfaction over the merger of the two national swimming associations, one recognized by National Sports Council (NSC) and another with international recognition.



The two bodies officially announced a merger on Monday on the mediation of NSC Member Secretary Yuvaraj Lama. After the merger, Ashok Bajracharya, general secretary of Nepal Swimming Association (NSA), which has international recognition, is leading the new committee as president while Jagat Man Shrestha, general secretary of NSA backed by NSC, remained in the same position.[break]



“Merger or settlement of any dispute is better than continuing the dispute but we should see it from a larger perspective,” said the NOC President Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan.



“The so-called merger approves the government interference in the elected NSA body. NSC should have followed certain norms instead of just making portfolio adjustments,” he added.

“We want NSC to respect a democratic procedure. The dispute should have been solved through the NSA’s general assembly,” said Pradhan.



The NOC General Secretary Jeevan Ram Shrestha said that the so called merger could face trouble in getting international recognition.



“The dispute arose as the previous NSC board interfered in the elected NSA body. NSC should have sought a solution in line with NSA regulations,” said Shrestha.



On the other hand, NSC Member Secretary Yuvraj Lama has reiterated that he would take initiatives to solve all the disputes in the sports bodies including those for kabaddi, gymnastics and NOC itself as soon as possible.



There are two kabaddi associations and two gymnastics associations after the previous NSC board led by then Member Secretary Hari Babu Chaudhary dissolved associations with international recognition and formed new ones.



Meanwhile, NOC led by Pradhan has international recognition while NOC led by Rukma Samsher Rana turned active after a verdict of the Supreme Court last year.



The newly appointed Member Secretary Lama has been saying that both NOCs do not have options except to resolve the disputes soon.



However, NOC General Secretary Shrestha said that NSC should respect the Olympic Charter. He claimed that the NSC should think about options to solve the NOC dispute since the government has to coordinate with NOC recognized by IOC to host the 2014 South Asian Games (SAG) and to participate in the 2012 SAG. “NSC can solve the disputes even by respecting the SC verdict,” said Shrestha.

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