The South Sudan National Olympic Committee has confirmed that the National Basketball Team will be participating in the Olympics, regardless of reports of passport issues.
The statement follows a press release issued by Eunice Phillip, South Sudan’s Chef de Mission for Olympics 2024, saying that processing visas for the athletes and accompanying officials was all behind schedule, SchengenVisaInfo reports.
Juma Stephen Luggo, the President of the South Sudan National Olympics Committee told a press conference in Juba that the basketball players will be participating in the event and that they are waiting for their passports.
We want to assure South Sudanese that the country will be there and participate in Paris. And if there are other federations like athletics and the rest if they qualify, they will also participate with the basketball team.
Authorities Claim ‘There Are No Obstacles’ Despite Long Due Visa Processing
The President reassured that South Sudanese basketball players and other officials would all be attending the Olympics but confirmed that there are issues with passports that are making the process last longer than expected.
- The issue of the passports was the concern. The organising committee has a deadline which is nearing. So, we are working together to make sure we enter all the information in the database in the coming days. President Luggo
In addition, Justin Stephen, representing the South Sudanese Ministry of Sports, said that visas to France will be issued at the nearby French embassy located in Adis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Director General Stephen pointed out that visa processing can take from seven to 14 days, but hoped for faster processing. He claimed that the Olympic Committee has talked to the French Ambassador and the issue is expected to be resolved soon.
South Sudanese Attending the Olympics 2024 Warned to Register With the National Committee for Schengen Visas ASAP
The Chef de Mission of the Paris Olympics, Phillip reminded South Sudanese nationals who intend to support their national team and athletes by attending the event, to register with the committee.
Phillip points out that their names will have to be submitted to the French Embassy in Addis Ababa for visa processing, especially due to the long visa processing waiting times.
Nationals of 99 countries that are Olympic Committee members are required to obtain a visa to enter France, which includes preparing documents for the application. SchengenVisaInfo has introduced the Paris Olympics 2024 Travel and Visa Checker, an online tool that provides details regarding visa requirements.
