Shyam Dhakal and the battle for Vancouver

see also The wider issue at stake

Shyam Dhakal (28) is the best ski racer ever to come from Nepal. He has trained since 2002 at a training base in Les Arcs, France dedicated to the Nepal Ski Team. Throughout that time he was sponsored by a UK hotel company and trained by Richard Morley (54), an ex Royal Navy skier who created the team and led it to Nepal’s first ever representation at the Salt Lake Olympics in 2002. Shyam was an excellent trainee and by April 2008 he was on the edge of Olympic qualification.

Also in 2008 Morley, as official Team Manager, was invited by the Nepal Olympic Committee to select candidates for IOC Solidarity funding to train for the Vancouver Olympics. A scholarship was dully awarded in November 2008 to Dhakal and this extra funding allowed Morley to take another promising young skier, Uttam Rayamajhi (16), into the team.

Jeevan Ram Shrestha, General Secretary of the Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC), Member Secretary of the Nepal Sports Council, President of the Nepal Ski Association

But in December 2008 Jeevan Ram Shrestha, General Secretary of the Nepal Olympic Committee, Member Secretary of the Nepal Sports Council and President of the Nepal Ski Association, telephoned Morley in England and demanded an improper and substantial cut of Shyam’s scholarship. Morley refused and Shrestha then failed to process the Solidarity paperwork or grant Rayamajhi his necessary FIS license.

By February 2009 the lack of processed Solidarity funding stopped Morley from providing the particular skis required for participation in the World Alpine Ski Championships at Val D’Isere. As participation was now an essential element of Olympic qualification, Morley asked the FIS organisers to arrange the loan of this equipment. They informed him that comprehensive FIS funding for the team to participate had already been sent to Shrestha. When Morley told them that the team had received nothing from their officials the Race Office staff immediately alerted Reuters and the story broke across the media. Dynastar provided the skis and Dhakal and Subas Khatri (21), the team number two, were able to compete successfully at the championships.

Shortly afterwards Dhakal set a new national record of 152 pts FIS at Megeve and was now within a half second of qualification for Vancouver.

Uttam Rayamajhi, Shyam Dhakal and Subas Khatri.	Ski prep at training base

But the Nepal Olympic Committee was furious over the international media coverage that emphasised the funding difficulties of the team. Accordingly they dismissed Morley from his role as Team Manager and Winter Sports Advisor and asked the IOC to transfer Dhakal’s scholarship (although it had never been paid to him) to the veteran cross country skier, Dachirri Sherpa (40), a part time enthusiast living near Geneva who had already qualified for the less demanding Nordic events at Vancouver. Dhakal was told to leave the training camp whilst Khatri and Rayamajhi were simply ignored.

Young Rayamajhi fell into despair that he had given up his education for the national team and was now discarded without consideration. He disappeared without spare clothing or money during a blizzard and was only found two weeks later after a considerable media and Facebook campaign across France. He had walked most of the way to Paris.

Rayamajhi’s disappearance caused considerable media attention in Nepal and Shrestha publicly asserted that the entire team had gone to Europe illegally. This was a complete lie. Morley sent documentary evidence directly to the government and the Nepal media to establish the facts and Shrestha left his position as Member Secretary of the government controlled National Sports Council shortly afterwards. But the Government had no authority to intervene in the National Olympic Committee or the Ski Association and Shrestha was able to hold his positions there. And he still does so.

In May 2009 Dhakal was contacted by the IOC and the NOC and offered part payment of his scholarship funding on condition that he left the training base, always represented himself and had nothing more to do with Morley. These conditions were contrary to the contract in force. Furthermore he was told that unless he agreed to such conditions he would not be selected for Vancouver even if he qualified. This was contrary to the Olympic Charter. But he had no choice but to accept.

Thereafter the Nepal Olympic Committee substantially abused their office. They misinformed Dhakal of the actual funding commencement date, delayed sending him a copy of the contract for several months and instructed him to sign for money that he had never received. When he refused to do so they denied him certification needed to get a visa for training and delayed the despatch of his summer funding until the end of November – by which time of course it was too late to do anything.

On 8 November 2009 Dhakal wrote to the Olivier Niamkey, Athletes Secretary at IOC Solidarity, and asked his assistance to investigate the circumstances, to allow dispensation for the outstanding 12 pts FIS for qualification and to allow him to return to his familiar base and training staff for preparation. The IOC made no response.

Thereafter Dhakal asked Morley to represent his case to the IOC. On 27 November Morley wrote to Niamkey asking again for dispensation over the remaining 12 pts FIS on the grounds that Dhakal had been literally prevented from training by his NOC through their prohibition of his former sponsors, their failure to process the IOC funding in reasonable time and their refusal to even supply him with the certification needed to gain a visa for training in Europe.

The IOC response was unhelpful and protective of the Nepal organisation. On 11 January Morley wrote again directly accusing the NOC of abuse of office and the IOC of complicity. The matters were not challenged and were therefore placed in the public domain on 2 February 2010. A website was launched providing a full record of mails and telephone calls between the various parties together with other ancillary evidence.