ISSF President Luciano Rossi has welcomed the news that Guatemalan athletes will be able to participate at the Paris 2024 Olympics with their flag, anthem and uniform following the provisional lifting of the ban on their National Olympic Committee (NOC).
The decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Committee, announced at its meeting in Lausanne, to lift the sanction applied from October 15, 2022 means that the four Guatemala shooting sport athletes who earned places to compete as independents at the Games will now be able to have full national representation, including taking part in the Opening Ceremony parade.
“This is marvellous and timely news for our Guatemalan friends,” Rossi said.
“We look forward to seeing Guatemalan athletes who have qualified for Paris 2024 competing proudly in their national colours and under their national flag.
“It is a good day for friendship in sport.”
Shooting sport athletes comprise four of the 10 so far qualified to represent Guatemala at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Adriano Ruano earned her place by winning the trap women event at last year’s Pan American Games in Santiago, where she and her compatriots competed as independents under the Panam Sports flag.
She will be joined in the trap women event by Walesska Soto Abril, who took silver in Santiago and won gold at this month’s Olympic Qualification CAT XIV Shotgun Championships staged in the Dominican Republic capital of Santo Domingo.
Also earning an Olympic Quota place with victory at the Pan American Games was Soto Abril’s compatriot Jean Pierre Brol, who took bronze in Santo Domingo.
Sebastian Bermudez Labbe claimed a fourth Quota place by winning skeet men’s gold at the Championship of the Americas in the Dominican Republic.
The sanction imposed by the IOC following interference by the country's highest court, which overturned some provisions of the statutes and rules of the NOC.
“In the interest of athletes, the IOC Executive Board considered it appropriate to provisionally lift the suspension until further notice,” said James Mcleod, Director of Olympic Solidarity and Relations with NOCs.
“This means that Guatemalan athletes can prepare for the Paris Games, where they will compete with their flag and anthem.
"This decision was taken after the positive developments of the last few weeks.”
On Saturday, in an extraordinary session, the General Assembly of the Guatemalan Olympic Committee disowned the President of its Executive Committee, Jorge Rodas, who was elected on October 9, 2021 in a process that was not recognised by the IOC.
The other Guatemala athletes who have earned Quota places for the Games are: Jose Alejandro Barrondo (Race Walking), Andres Feraández (Modern Pentathlon), Juan Ignacio Maegli (Sailing), Luis Grijalva (Athletics, 5,000 m), Sophia Hernandez (Modern Pentathlon) and Alberto Gonzalez (Marathon).