IOC president invites Israelis, Palestinians for talks on travel restrictions for athletes

IOC president invites Israel, Palestine for talks

TEL AVIV, Israel — The president of the International Olympic Committee has invited Israeli and Palestinian sports officials to meet at IOC headquarters to discuss travel restrictions on Palestinian athletes.

Jacque Rogge has expressed concern over travel obstacles facing Palestinian athletes, saying they should be granted free movement regardless of politics.

Speaking at a news conference in Tel Aviv on Thursday, Rogge invited the sides to IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Palestinian officials say Israel routinely hinders the movement of Palestinian athletes, particularly those from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Israel denies the accusations.

Israel’s prime minister has promised to look into ways of easing travel restrictions on Palestinian athletes.