The International Olympic Committee has agreed to work with the Indian Olympic Association to ensure that the IOA Constitution is amended and elections, scheduled for December, are held in “accordance with the Olympic Charter”.
IOA representatives met with the IOC at its headquarters in Lausanne where both parties agreed to “address and resolve the governance issues affecting” the India’s Olympic body.
The IOC, in a mailed statement to Indian media, after the meeting, has stated: “A joint meeting between the IOC, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), a representative of the Indian athletes, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the government of India took place on 27 September 2022 in Lausanne. All parties agreed to work together to address and resolve the governance issues affecting the IOA, and hold the IOA elections by December this year, in line with the directives given in the IOC EB decision on 8 September 2022.”
“The IOC also took note of the recent decision of the Supreme Court of India to appoint a former judge to work on the amendments of the IOA Constitution, prepare the electoral college and supervise the IOA elections.
The Supreme Court has appointed retired judge L Nageswara Rao to oversee the amendment of the IOA constitution as well as hold elections under the new provisions.
The IOC statement furtther reads: “The whole process will have to be conducted in close coordination with the IOC, and in accordance with the Olympic Charter and the basic principles of good governance within the Olympic Movement. As a first step, the IOA Constitution will be amended to include the necessary governance reforms and, as a second step, the IOA elections will be held on the basis of the newly-approved IOA constitution.”
Earlier, in a July letter, the IOC had insisted that elections be held according to provisions of the existing IOA constitution and the Olympic Charter. However, after the Tuesday meeting, the IOC has indicated it is on board with the IOA amending its constitution as long as it stays within the ambit of the Olympic Charter.
