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Olympic chief confident LA Games will avoid referee entry issues

The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 10, 2026, 6:24 PM

Last updated Jun 10, 2026

Olympic chief confident LA Games will avoid referee entry issues

Summary

The International Olympic Committee, led by Kirsty Coventry, expressed confidence that the 2028 Los Angeles Games will not encounter the immigration issues seen during the World Cup buildup. Concerns were raised when Africa’s top referee, Omar Artan, was denied entry by US officials. The IOC plans to implement a taskforce to address any similar challenges. Previous visa-related troubles included Iran being moved from a training camp in Arizona to Mexico, highlighting the difficulties faced by international officials.

Source Links

The Guardian Sport

Key Details

•IOC confident LA Games won't face immigration issues.
•Omar Artan, Africa's top referee, denied US entry.
•Taskforce established to tackle any potential problems.
•Past issues included Iran's training camp relocation.

Latest Updates

6:24 PMThe Guardian Sport — Olympic chief ‘confident’ LA Games will not repeat World Cup referee fiasco

What they're saying

"
Kirsty Coventry: IOC will have taskforce for any issues Referee Omar Artan refused entry by US officials The International Olympic Committee insists it is “confident” that the LA Games in 2028 will not face the same immigration issues that have marred the buildup to the World Cup – including Africa’s top referee, Omar Artan, from Somalia being refused entry by US officials. Despite Fifa’s close relationship with the Trump administration, it was also unable to stop Iran being moved from a training camp in Arizona to Mexico and some of its officials being denied entry visas. Continue reading...
— The Guardian Sportby Sean Ingle

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