An application from the South Sudan Athletics Federation to the IAAF Council met membership requirements set out in Article 4.3 of the IAAF Constitution, it was revealed, with this consisting of demands such as presenting a copy of its constitution and by-laws, a financial declaration and details of clubs, athletes, coaches and officials.

The provisional acceptance must now be rubber-stamped by the IAAF Congress at its meeting in Beijing next year, and if so, would deem the African country the International Federation's 213th member.

One of the world's most impoverished nations, South Sudan is currently also in the process of being recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The major stumbling block being that it does not yet have a fully fledged National Olympic Committee.

The IOC is working with the Sudan Olympic Committee and with representatives from the South Sudanese sporting movement to engineer this, with athletes having competed under the Olympic flag at London 2012 and at the Nanjing 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games.

American-based marathon runner Guor Mading Makeris South Sudan's competed at London 2012 under the Olympic flag but hopes to represent his own country at RIo 2016
©AFP/Getty Images










Guor Mading Maker, the marathon runner who finished 47th at London 2012 under the name Guor Marial, recently launched a campaign to try to raise $25,000 (£16,000/€20,000) to help him compete at Rio 2016.

Those who have donated so far include Meb Keflezighi, an Eritrean-born American and winner of the 2014 Boston Marathon and Olympic silver marathon medallist at Athens 2004.

Like thousands of others, Maker fled fighting during the 1983-2005 war with Khartoum that paved the way for South Sudan's independence, one of a generation dubbed the "Lost Boys".

He was forced to flee his home village in 1993, and was granted residence in the United States in 2001.

Maker visited South Sudan for the first time since leaving last year, and - despite fearing he was an orphan - was reunited with his mother after two decades without contact.

Since then war has broken out there again tens of thousands have been killed and aid agencies warn the country is on the brink of famine.

Other notable sportsmen to  hail from South Sudan include Luol Deng, who plays for Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association and who represented Britain at London 2012.

Maker's fellow South Sudanese "Lost Boy" and middle-distance runner Lopez Lomong, now a US citizen, was the flag bearer for the US Olympic team at the Opening Ceremony of Beijing 2008. 

South Sudanese-born Lopez Lomong carried the United States flag at the Opening Ceremony of Beijing 2008 ©Getty Images

Unlike Kosovo, provisionally recognised by the IOC Executive Board last month, South Sudan has no problems with the Olympic Charter stipulation to be "recognised by the international community", but does not fulfil the other demand of having at least five national sporting federations recognised by the respective international body.

Hopes are high this will change soon, with the IAAF decision a major step, following other decisions such as the associate membership granted by the International Handball Federation in October 2013.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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