[misc.headlines.unitex] COMMISSION AGAINST APARTHEID IN SPORTS REPORTS TO GENERAL

unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (10/25/89)

COMMISSION AGAINST APARTHEID IN SPORTS REPORTS TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

     Posting Date: 10/20/89        Copyright UNITEX Communications, 1989
     UNITEX Network, USA           ISSN: 1043-7932

     The Commission against Apartheid in Sports this morning concluded
     its first session after adopting its report, as amended, to the
     General Assembly.

     The 15-member Commission was established to monitor the
     International Convention against Apartheid in Sports, which
     entered into force on 4 April 1988.

     In its report, the Commission, while emphasizing the role of
     individual sportsmen and women, teams and sports organizations,
     expressed the belief that certain Governments, and particularly
     that of the United Kingdom, should adopt more effective measures
     to terminate sports contacts with South Africa.

     Statements made this morning by members centred on amendments to
     the draft report and reflected their concern that the sports
     boycott against South Africa be expanded.  Speakers included the
     Chairman of the Commission, James Victor Gbeho of Ghana; Abraham
     Ordia of Nigeria; George Zorwka of the German Democratic
     Republic; Besley Maycock of Barbados; Allan Rae of Jamaica;
     Hamad Abdelaziz Al-Kawarei of Qatar; Tesfaye Shafo of Ethiopia;
     and Valdimir Platonov of the Ukraine.

     In addition, the Committee, this morning, heard statements by
     Solly Simelane, observer for the African National Congress of
     South Africa (ANC), and Sam Ramsamy of the South Africa
     Non-Racial Olympic Committee.  A statement was also made by Amer
     Araim of the Centre against Apartheid.

     In its conclusions and recommendations, the Commission
     "recognized the importance of the contribution of the
     International Olympic Committee in isolating South Africa from
     the Olympic Games" and in persuading sporting federations
     affiliated with the Olympic Committee to expel South Africa from
     membership and to terminate any sports contacts with it.

     The report further states that action is needed concerning other
     non-Olympic sports, in particular regarding the continuing
     contacts with South Africa in golf, rugby and other sports.

     Also, the Commission recommended that the General Assembly urge
     all States to ratify the Convention and call on all States to
     co-operate with the Commission and Special Committee against
     Apartheid in matters relating to the boycott of apartheid
     sports.

     Membership and Officers

     The members of the Commission, elected by States parties to the
     Convention, are:  Hamad Abdelaziz Al-Kawari of Qatar; Ahmad Fathi
     Al-Masri of Syria; Ra l Gonz lez Rodriguez of Mexico; Hocine
     Djoudi of Algeria; James Victor Gbeho of Ghana; Lionel Hurst of
     Antigua and Barbuda; Besley Maycock of Barbados; Abraham Ordia
     of Nigeria; Vladimir Platonov of the Ukraine; Allan Rae of
     Jamaica; Tesfaye Shafo of Ethiopia; Claudio Teehankee of the
     Philippines; Boris Topornin of the Soviet Union; Zoumana Traor|
     of Burkina Faso; and Georg Zorowka of the German Democratic
     Republic.

     On 19 October, the Commission elected James Victor Gbeho, as
     Chairman, Hamad Abdelaziz Al-Kawari and Georg Zorowka, as
     Vice-Chairmen, and Besley Maycock as Rapporteur.

     States Parties

     To date, the following 43 States are parties to the
     International Convention against Apartheid in Sports:  Algeria,
     Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Bulgaria,
     Burkina Faso, Byelorussia, Czechoslovakia, Equatorial Guinea,
     Ethiopia, German Democratic Republic, Ghana, Guyana, Iran, Iraq,
     Jamaica, Jordan, Libya, Mali, Maruitania, Mexico, Mongolia,
     Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Saint
     Kitts and Nevis, Senegal, Syria, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine,
     USSR, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia
     and Zimbabwe.

 * Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501)


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