“There’s no talking about it”

The criticism against SOK has been enormous.
Now Miro Zalar rides out to defend before the Olympics.
– It has happened all along, says the expert.

When the Olympic Committee released the final squad for this summer’s Olympics in Paris, it led to a huge storm of criticism. The reason is that several athletics names have actually passed the limits set by the International Athletics Federation, which are therefore sufficient to qualify for the tournament. But SOK has other requirements, and has the last word.

Heavily sawn

SOK requires that you either be a future name or have a chance to finish in the top twelve in the summer’s competitions. This means that athletes who, despite everything, passed the international qualification limits that exist, still do not have a chance to reach the SOK’s selection requirements. SOK has declared that it wants a certain level in its squad, but this has also led to other athletes from other nations, who actually have worse results, having to go at the expense of the Swedes.

This week it was announced that six athletes, with Yolanda Ngarambe at the head, started a case with Cas, the sports court of arbitration, against the SOC, as they believe that the selection criteria are against Olympic law. Ngarambe himself has qualified for the Olympics based on international qualification limits twice – but was snubbed by the Olympic Committee both times. But at the same time as criticism of the SOK continues to pour in, expert Miro Zalar comes to the defense.

– This is nothing unusual and it has happened all along, he says in Radiosporten.

The expert’s answer

Zalar himself has experienced a similar scenario during his active career as a pole vaulter, and buys the SOK’s reasoning.

– I can only go to myself, before the 1980 Olympics, 5.40 was requested as a qualifying result, and so I did it. Then there was no approval, and then I did it again. And then finally I jumped 5.50, and then I got the go-ahead, he says, and continues:

– SOK has decided then that their qualification requirement is that you must be able to reach the top twelve. Then there is no question that these who have now qualified internationally, they will not have an opportunity to reach the top twelve. Absolutely not.