U.N. sanctions panel nixes IOC request to exempt sports equipment

A request to allow sports equipment into North Korea that was recently proposed by the International Olympic Committee has been officially blocked by a U.N. sanctions committee, a diplomat confirmed Wednesday.In July, the IOC submitted a request to the North Korea sanctions committee to allow equipment into the isolated country so athletes could prepare and qualify for upcoming Olympic Games.Under previously imposed sanction resolutions, restrictions are in place on North Korea with such equipment being considered luxury items.The 15-member committee must unanimously decide to allow any suc…READ FULL ARTICLE