In its bid to disrupt the Congress, NSC, the country´s apex sports body, had issued a notice to all the associations, players, coaches and referees affiliated to it not to attend the two-day event. [break]
But NSC agreed to let the Congress begin after NOC approved NSC Member Secretary Hari Babu Chaudhari as the chef-de-mission for the Asiad during a meeting initiated by NOC on Saturday morning. In the past too, the two main sports bodies of Nepal have had differences regarding the appointment of chef-de-mission.
Chaudhari said he was able to acquire verbal commitment from NOC for the post of chef-de-mission after NSC agreed not to obstruct anyone from attending the Congress.
"We have reached a consensus but not an agreement. This Congress is also ours. The NOC officials too admitted during this morning´s meeting that they had ignored NSC and the Youth and Sports Ministry. Actually there has been an agreement to respect each other´s existence and not to interfere in other´s affairs," Chaudhari added.
Chaudhari said that all issues, including the dissolution of national associations by NSC, will be sorted out by the meeting on Monday.
NSC had dissolved Nepal Gymnastic Association headed by NOC President Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan, Nepal Kabaddi Association led by NOC member Sunil Rajkarnikar and Nepal Swimming Association recognized by NOC.
NSC recently announced to dissolve Nepal Karate Federation, whose president Purendra Bikram Lakhe is a member of NOC.
NOC President Pradhan informed that NOC organized the Congress to form a common view regarding the Olympic movement and the IOC charter.
Subas Chandra Nembang, Speaker of the Constituent Assembly, inaugurated the Sports Congress after the agreement was reached between the two sports bodies.
On the occasion, Nembang lamented that the sports sector has not been able to free itself of controversies.
NSC member Khadga Ranabhat was the guest during the opening session. The second session was chaired by NSC Member Secretary Chaudhari himself who had earlier directed others not to attend the Congress.
During the session, NOC General Secretary Jeevan Ram Shrestha presented working papers related to players´ issues. Likewise, Umesh Lal Shrestha presented papers on the sports policy regarding national and international tournaments and NOC President Pradhan presented papers on sports policy in the context of globalization.
Youth and Sports Ministry´s representative presented papers on Nepal´s current sports policy while Bhaskar Raj Rajkarnikar shed light on expanding the market of sports and on sponsorship.
The Congress attended by the officials of NSC, NOC, national associations as well as players, coaches and sports journalists will run till Monday.
Related story
Pokhara aspiring as a water sports destination
