Britain considers games ban for Syria Olympic head

London: The British government says it is considering banning Syria’s Olympic chief from the London Games over his links with President Bashar Assad. Gen Mowaffak Joumaa is not on a European Union travel-ban list which features Assad, and has said he plans to attend the Olympics. But British sports minister Hugh Robertson says the Joumaa “situation … is developing as we speak. We will have to see when his application comes through.” Joumaa is an aide of Assad, whose regime has launched a violent crackdown on opposition. [caption id=“attachment_280012” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The British government says it is considering banning Syria’s Olympic chief from the London Games over his links with President Bashar Assad. AP”] [/caption] Robertson says a committee will assess “anyone who applies for a visa for the games who comes from a country where there might be questions raised.” With “contentious” cases," Robertson stressed that ministers “have the power to refuse anybody a visa.” AP