Vote for independence might result in Scottish athletes missing out on Rio Olympics

The International Olympic Committee vice-president Sir Craig Reedie has warned that chances of Scottish athletes being able to represent their new country at Rio 2016 Olympics are likely to be low because of the event of a vote for independence later this month.

Reedie, who is also president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, said that there would not be enough time between Scotland's target date for independence of March 2016 and the start of the 2016 Games to ratify a new national Olympic committee (NOC).

For that to happen, prospective NOCs must have at least five national governing bodies that are affiliated to international federations, a test easily passed by Scotland, but also be considered an independent nation recognised by the international community, The Guardian reported.

Given the target date, Reedie said that he thought it would be very, very difficult for a newly independent Scottish team to take part. So Scottish athletes would be faced with the choice of competing in a Great Britain vest, which would test public feelings, or missing out altogether.

Reedie said that he has no idea how long that process of recognition will take, adding that in practical terms the IOC has tended to use recognition by the United Nations. He said that many of the sports would have qualifying competitions that have all but finished.

Reedie said that he does not know if it could be done in time, and added that he suspects it would be very, very difficult.