TOKYO, Thursday, November 29, 2018 (WAFA) - Jibril Rajoub, president of the Palestinian Olympic Committee (POC), urged on Thursday the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, to take quick and swift action to put an end to Israeli violations against Palestinian sports.

Rajoub met Bach on the sidelines of the meeting of the General Assembly of the Associations of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) in Tokyo and called on Bach to issue a statement condemning these violations. He stressed the right of freedom of movement for Palestinian athletes, free entry of sports equipment to Palestine and the right of the POC to develop sports in its country.

He told Bach that Israel prevented POC vice president, Asaad Majdalawi, from leaving Gaza  to attend the ANOC meeting.

He said it was important for the IOC to pressure Israel to honor the Olympic laws when it comes to Palestine, which is an IOC  member, as this pressure will force Israel to refrain from perpetrating crimes and racism against Palestinian athletes.

Rajoub also met on the sidelines of the General Assembly, ANOC deputy chairman Sheikh Ahmed Al Fahad Al Sabah to mobilize international support for Palestinian sport and to ensure its legitimate right to development and progress.

He said ANOC has an important role to play in supporting Palestinian sport and helping the POC resolve its problems, the most serious is caused by the Israeli occupation.

Rajoub also invited Bach and Sheikh Sabah to visit Palestine and see firsthand the situation of Palestinian sports and what it is suffering from due to the practices of the Israeli occupation.

M.K.