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Cancellation of SportAccord Conference in Istanbul Amid Political Turmoil

The recent arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul, has led to the significant decision to cancel an upcoming international conference that was set to gather Olympic officials and sports leaders in the city.

Originally scheduled for June 9-12, the SportAccord event aimed to promote Istanbul’s aspirations to host the Summer Olympics in either 2036 or 2040, a project that is closely associated with İmamoğlu. The mayor actively campaigned for this bid during last year’s Paris Olympics, making him a prominent figure in Turkey’s sports diplomacy.

İmamoğlu was detained on March 19, facing charges related to corruption and terrorism. Many observers believe these allegations are politically motivated, particularly given his emergence as a potential challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the upcoming elections. In the wake of his detention, widespread protests erupted, attracting hundreds of thousands of supporters to the streets of Istanbul, showcasing the public’s discontent and support for İmamoğlu.

In light of the “evolving political context,” organizers announced the cancellation of the SportAccord conference, highlighting that the priority remained on the “safety and welfare” of the delegates. They acknowledged that due to the political unrest following İmamoğlu’s arrest, several essential conditions required for hosting the event could no longer be fulfilled. Consequently, it was deemed necessary to halt the proceedings.

This incident marks another setback for SportAccord, which has only been held once since 2019, due to prior disruptions including the COVID-19 pandemic and the geopolitical ramifications of Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.

Istanbul is currently vying for its place among other cities that have also submitted bids to host the Summer Games, including countries such as India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Hungary. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has no set timeline for decisions on host cities, opting instead for a more fluid approach to negotiations, which critics argue lacks transparency. Preferred candidates are invited to engage in exclusive discussions before a final selection, which is then ratified through a vote by IOC members, often without competition on the ballot.

As political developments continue to unfold in Turkey, the landscape for international sporting events, particularly Istanbul’s Olympic aspirations, remains uncertain.

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For more insights on the upcoming Summer Olympics, visit AP Summer Olympics.

Source
abcnews.go.com