The International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the government of Iraq have signed an agreement in Kuwait stipulating the rules and procedures for transparent and fair elections in the National Olympic Committee of Iraq (NOCI) on March the 14th 2009.
Moreover, the election process will be overseen by an Election Steering Committee, and all procedures will be based on the Olympic Charter and the Statutes of the NOCI. The IOC expressed its satisfaction over what has been done: “The IOC is pleased to see that clear procedures have been laid out to ensure the smooth running of the Iraqi NOC elections. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the NOCI and to supporting Iraqi sport in the lead-up to the London Games,” said Pere Miró, IOC Director of NOC Relations, after the meeting.
Meanwhile, sports federations’ elections which started about four months ago have stopped and a new date is to be set for resumption. Most of the federations have finished the electoral process and only seven are yet to be completed.
The commission supervising the elections attributed the postponement to its wish to assess the process it had conducted and to studying objections submitted by members of these federations.
Jazaar Alshlani, spokesman of the Commission supervising the process said that the elections have seen no cases of objection by members of the federations which had conducted their elections.
Alshlani said that although there were some defects, since the process of election in its real meaning is rather new to Iraq. “We feel so proud of the experience. What we used to have pre-2003 were mostly fixed elections. We can proudly say that our elections have witnessed a democratic exercise and gave a great lesson in transparency, democracy and the victory of the values and principles of sport”.
Alshlani said that he hoped that the elections would have finished in November but those objections delayed the process.
“We want to do it the proper way and study everything that could upset the whole principle of democracy in the electoral process.
“There are seven federations which have not yet conducted elections, in addition to another four non-Olympic federations. For various reasons there have been a number of appeals and objections that violations have occurred.
“The important thing now is to complete the elections for all sports federations and to give serious consideration to the objections submitted to the Commission to take the appropriate decision. It is not fair or even reasonable to pass a number of non-eligible candidates to the governing bodies, if those objections were true. That is why postponing the process till after studying the objections would put us at the safe side.”
Alshlani concluded: “The Commission is working under difficult circumstances. There is a lot of pressure. But that does not mean that we are going to give in. It was our dream as former sportsmen to see fair and democratic elections; and we aim at the highest success rate that may be obtained. We must all understand that what our sport really needs today to find an appropriate person for the right job. If we did that then only then can one say that this is the first step toward a comprehensive change has been already initiated.”
On the other hand, a meeting between the Ministry of Youth and Sports and representatives and new heads of federations that have held their elections was held last week. Those present expressed their concern and worries that this delay might have a negative impact on the activities of the federations that have not completed the election process.
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Jaseem Mohammed Jaafar replied: “The Ministry is not responsible at all for this delay. It is something related to the Higher Committee observing the elections. We cannot interfere.”
The Minister also expressed his department’s readiness to provide sufficient support to the sports federations in order to carry out their activities, and that the ministry is discussing with the Municipality of Baghdad allocating areas to every federation.
The attendant heads of the federations indicated that the formation of the Higher Committee for the elections was a clear message to the International Olympic Committee and to the public that the elections were conducted without any governmental intervention and supervised by non-governmental representatives.
Minister Jaafar denied that his ministry is adopting a proposal submitted to the Iraqi Premier Nuri al-Maliki suggesting that the latter can appoint a President to the Iraqi Olympic Committee.
“There was such a law issued in 1973 and clearly states that the appointment of the President of Olympic Committee is among the jurisdiction of the Premier, but we are aware that that law was formed purposely for meeting the late regime’s aims. To work in accordance with this law now depends on the approval of the elected heads of federations.”
The minister also denied that the government spokesman Ali Al-Dabbagh is willing to stand up for the presidency of the Iraqi Olympic Committee: “These are merely rumours and some journalists overdid it - whatever happened to our new democracy? You have made great steps so far, your elections are the perfect example of the new Iraq. Your cooperation with the Ministry will develop and enhance the sports in Iraq, and this is our prime course.”
Jaafar concluded by saying that he hoped the elections of the Iraqi Football Federation, (which was postponed among those federations), the elections of the Executive Committee and the President of the Iraq National Olympic Committee will live up to the whole sports bodies’ expectations.
The sports elections in Iraq are followed closely by most people, particularly the elections of the most disputed Football Federation and the Olympic Committee, as well as the NOCI.
The main sports body in Iraq is the Ministry of Youth and Sports, followed by the Olympic Committee. After the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, the NOCI had its first electoral process supervised and supported by the IOC. The latter helped to re-establish the Iraqi NOC in February 2004, and has provided substantial financial support and other assistance to Iraqi athletes.
The subsequent period witnessed tough competition among different parties to control the NOCI which was growing and gaining success. Iraq participated in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and was so close to making a breakthrough in football. The power and the democracy the NOCI has enjoyed was an eminent threat to many, and the President Ahmed Abdulgafor was popular among sports societies.
In 2006 the security situation in Iraq was so critical and this reflected on the NOCI. During a press conference the President and 40 other members were kidnapped and driven to an unknown destination. The manner in which the group was kidnapped is still shrouded in controversy. Even until now their whereabouts has been kept a mystery. Knowing how sports can affect public opinion, conflicting parties were racing to put a hold on the NOCI.
In May 2008, the government of Iraq sought to disband the independent NOC and replace it with one headed by a government official. This is considered to be a clear violation of the Olympic Charter regarding government interference.
The IOC responded on June 4, 2008 by suspending the government-imposed committee. The IOC urged Iraqi officials to resolve the matter and issued an open invitation for a meeting in Lausanne. The meeting took place on July 29 and led to an agreement re-establishing the NOCI and allowing its participation in the Beijing Games. Then on July 29, 2008, the same parties agreed on a series of steps including the lifting of the suspension of the NOCI, as well as a commitment to hold transparent and fair elections after the Olympic Games.
The federations’ elections have highlighted the fact that Iraqi sportsmen are very much aware of the importance of the democratic process in promoting sport in their nation.
With only those seven federations left, the Iraqi Football Federation elections imminent, and the NOCI elections set for March 14, 2009, all those who are concerned with sports in Iraq are looking forward to a process which will mark a turning point for sport in the history of modern Iraq.
(Source: Aips)
