Peru's Olympic Committee "pulled out of hosting the 2017 World Combat Games," citing an ongoing row between organizers SportAccord and the IOC, according to Karolos Grohmann of REUTERS. In a letter, Peruvian Olympic Committee President Jose Quinones Gonzalez told SportAccord President Marius Vizer that "his sharp criticism of the IOC last month and the fallout with many federations leaving SportAccord in protest, were to blame." Vizer, who also heads the judo federation, "is under increasing pressure since accusing the IOC of a lack of transparency, blocking the creation of new sports events and being a dated organisation that did little for international federations" (REUTERS, 5/24). REUTERS' Patrick Johnston reported the Olympic Council of Asia is looking for new hosts for the 2017 Asian Youth Games after stripping Sri Lanka of the event "because of an ongoing row over autonomy that has plagued sports in the island nation." Hambantota said that it would spend $300M on the Games after being selected in '12 following its failure to land the 2018 Commonwealth Games, "which went to Australia's Gold Coast." Indonesia "might be pushed to step in and replace Sri Lanka" as it is hosting the 2018 Asian Games following Vietnam's late withdraw (REUTERS, 5/24).
