Catalonia 'ready to launch Tokyo 2020 Olympics team' if independence is declared

Jessica Morgan10 October 2017

Catalonia will be ready to take their "best team" to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics should its government declare independence.

Gerard Esteva, the President of The Union of Catalan Sports Federations, said participating in the 2020 games was the region’s most important goal as the Catalan government prepares to declare its independence from Spain.

Esteva said the Catalan Union was prepared to put forward their best team for the Olympics in Japan in 2020 as well as the World and European Championships.

“If Catalonia will be independent this week, or this next year, we are prepared to participate with full conditions in the Japan Olympics in 2020.”

He added that the state will apply to become full members of the international federations and the international Olympic committees.

“This is our principle goal for the next Olympics in Japan 2020 and also for participating the international competitions.

“We know the way and we know we can do it and we are prepared for having the best team to participate in the Olympics. The best team for us obviously.”

If Catalonia were able to gain independence, it could mean top athletes could choose their Catalonian heritage over their broader Spanish heritage to participate in the games.

Catalonia is home to many international sports stars, including Barcelona FC centre-back Gerard Pique, NBA’s Pau Gasol who currently plays for the Chicago Bulls and synchronised swimming duo Gemma Mengual and Gisela Pulido who hold multiple Olympic medals.

"The current Olympic Charter states that the IOC can only recognise a National Olympic Committee in each Independent State,” The IOC's Pere Miró said.

“Therefore we must wait to see how the situation in Catalonia evolves as a potential independent state.”

The region is one of Spain’s wealthiest with its own culture and language. Catalonia held a referendum on October 1 in which an overwhelming majority backed independence despite only half the voters turning out.

But Spain’s highest court declared the vote illegal and violence erupted as national police tried to disrupt voting and were pictured clashing with members of the public.

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