BRAZZAVILLE: The Executive Bureau of the African Supreme Sports Council will very likely, at its crucial meeting here on Sunday [Feb 25], urge its 32 members to boycott the Mexico Olympic Games because of the re-admission of South Africa.

This was the general conclusion to be drawn here today from contacts with circles close to the CSSA Executive Bureau.

Thus far, a total of 16 countries mainly African, have announced they will boycott the games in view of the recent decision taken at Grenoble by the International Olympic Committee to allow South Africa to take part providing it sent a racially mixed team.

Two representatives of the Mexican Olympics organising committee, Dr Edkardo Hay and Roberto Casellas, arrived here today to try to sway the council against recommending a boycott.

Malaysia yesterday decided to boycott the Mexico Games unless the International Olympics Committee satisfies it that there was full justification for readmitting South Africa into the games.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the Olympic Council of Malaysia.

Deputy Premier Tun Abdul Razak who presided over the closed-door meeting said later, “we regret we are not able to take part in the forthcoming games, unless we get a satisfactory explanation from the IOC on South Africa’s admission”.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2018