Gosper to lead IOC visit of East Timor

Gosper to lead IOC visit of East Timor

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AFP): Beleaguered International Olympic Committee vice president Kevan Gosper is to head a two-day mission to East Timor from June 17, it was announced on Friday.

Gosper, who pulled out of the Oceanic leg of the Olympic torch relay following his controversial decision to let his daughter Sophie run in the flame lighting ceremony in Greece, will assess which Timorese athletes are best prepared to appear at September's Sydney Olympics.

East Timor athletes were given the go-ahead to compete in the Olympics, but not under their national flag, by the IOC at a meeting in Rio de Janeiro in May.

The agreement was arrived at after pleas from United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan and Australian Prime Minister John Howard.