NEW DELHI: The International Olympic Committee has proposed changes to the constitution of the suspended Indian Olympic Association that would bring the IOA in consonance with national sports bodies of sporting superpowers.
A key component of the IOC’s list of “suggestions”, made during a meeting hosted at its headquarters in Switzerland last month, is reportedly that the IOA have an “appointed CEO” instead of an elected secretary general after the December elections.
Representatives of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), IOA and Union Sports Ministry were present for the meeting in Lausanne on September 27, following a “final warning” issued by the IOC threatening a ban on the national Olympic body if elections are not announced before the next IOC executive board meeting (December 5-7), PTI reports.
Following the meeting, which was also attended by India’s first individual Olympic Gold medal winning shooter Abhinav Bindra, the IOC issued a summary which proposed, among other things, to change the position of an elected secretary general into an appointed CEO hired by the executive committee.
“The IOC/OCA will also propose additional elements (such as changing the position of elected Secretary General into an appointed position, so that the Secretary General would serve as a CEO appointed/hired by the Executive Committee, and including an independent ethics commission, a properly functioning athletes commission as per the IOC guidelines and safeguarding practices),” the IOC said in the summary which is in the possession of PTI.
Quick question. Which national sports body has long ago implemented the IOC’s governance suggestion for the IOA? The much maligned All India Football Federation.
Coming back to the IOC’s summary, it further reads: “The IOA Constitution will be amended to include the necessary governance reforms. To this effect, the IOC/OCA will work together with the judge appointed by the Supreme Court of India on the draft revised Constitution.
“In principle, most of the points raised by the High Court of Delhi in its decision dated 16 August 2022 are agreeable for the IOC/OCA and compatible with the Olympic Charter and the basic principles of good governance of the Olympic Movement, except the 2/3 majority required for a re-election (a simple majority, i.e. more than 50% of the votes validly cast, should be sufficient, like in any election process).
“…and, the appointment of 25% sportspersons as voting members within the IOA General Assembly and Executive Committee (which should be refined and mechanism of which should be re-discussed to make it workable and in line with basic requirements relating to the membership of any NOC, as per the Olympic Charter, and with the usual standards within the Olympic Movement).”
An official, who attended the joint meeting in Lausanne, told PTI that the Indian delegates have accepted IOC’s proposal. He also said that the state Olympic associations may also lose voting rights in the IOA General Assembly. The IOC said once the draft constitution is finalised by the retired judge in agreement with the IOC/OCA, it will be formally adopted by the IOA General Assembly.
“The IOA elections will be held in accordance with the newly approved IOA Constitution and the Olympic Charter, under the supervision of the former judge appointed by the Supreme Court and the IOC/OCA. The whole process (including the elections) will have to be completed prior to the IOC EB meeting in December 2022.”
Meanwhile, Justice (retired) L Nageswara Rao, who was tasked by the Supreme Court to amend the IOA constitution, in a notice issued last week, has called a meeting with the key sports bodies of the country on October 14.
