Panama suspended by IOC as internal struggles continue

(newsroompanama.com) Panama’s image on the world stage took another hit this week when the president of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge, said the IOC will examine what course of action to take against Panama at a  January meeting.

The I0C has suspended Panama’s Olympic Commission because of differences between leaders Melitón Sánchez and Miguel Vanegas. The agency could hand down more serious sanctions against the country in January.

  "We want to find a solution," said Rogge at a press conference Tuesday at the end of meetings of the Executive Commission of the IOC in Acapulco, Mexico.

The conflict created problems for funding athletes to compete in international competition. It also precluded Panama from hosting the upcoming Bolivian Games.

Former world champion boxer and Panamanian sports ambassador, Roberto Durán called for an end to corruption in the country's Olympic Committee and is leading a protest that includes top Panamanian athletes.

President Ricardo Martinelli said Wednesday that he will do whatever it takes to ensure that Panama hosts the  Games in 2013.

He said he would travel to the headquarters of (IOC) to assure them in person that the internal struggles of the country's own Olympic Committee will not have an impact on its ability to host the international competition.

"I am going to do what I have to do," Martinelli said. "If I have to go to Switzerland to speak with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ensure that the Bolivian Games come to Panama, I will go."

The Bolivian  Games  authority took Panama out of the running to host the 2013 games because of the dispute.

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Original Source: Newsroompanama

Date Retrieved: October 28, 2010