The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge states in a letter to the Cyprus Olympic Committee (COC) that any athlete wishing to take part in the London Olympic Games needs to refer to COC, the only national Olympic Committee on the island recognized by IOC.

The letter, dated June 12, 2012 was presented today by COC President Ouranios Ioannides, before departing for the London Games.

Asked to comment on protests by Turkish Cypriots in London, Ioannides said Rogge clarifies in his letter that the IOC never received any request concerning the participation of the breakaway illegal entity in Cyprus in the London Games.

He further said that the IOC President reaffirms that the COC is recognized as the sole Olympic Committee throughout the island, strictly abiding by the practice of the international community.

Therefore, any athlete from the island wishing to take part in the Olympic Games needs to refer to the COC, Ioannides said. He concluded by saying that Turkish Cypriot athletes have never contacted the COC.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third.

A breakaway state declared independence unilaterally, on November 15, 1983, in the areas under Turkish occupation, an action condemned by the UN Security Council and the international community as legally null and void.

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