Indian Olympic Association

IOA to build National Games brand value, wants support of top athletes

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) wants the country's top athletes to take part in the National Games so that a brand value can be created around the multi-sport event to attract sponsorship money. Hosting the multi-discipline games, a biennial event, has become a messy affair in recent times due to multiple delays, and only one National Games -- in Gujarat last year -- have been held since the 35th edition in Kerala in 2015. "IOA's main property is the National Games. If top players do not participate in the National Games, what is the use of hosting them. If they (top athletes) take part, television revenue from the National Games will go up, people will watch players of calibre," IOA joint secretary and acting Chief Executive Officer Kalyan Chaubey told PTI on Sunday. Goa has been confirmed during IOA's Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday as host of the 37th edition in November. IOA president P T Usha told PTI on Saturday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be request

IOA forms seven-member committee to probe allegations against WFI chief

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Friday formed a seven-member committee, including M C Mary Kom and Yogeshwar Dutt, to probe the allegations of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh by top grapplers. Besides legendary boxer Mary Kom and wrestler Yogeshwar, the panel also includes archer Dola Banerjee and Indian Weightlifting Federation of India (IWLF) president Sahdev Yadav. The decision was taken during IOA's emergency Executive Council meeting which was attended by the likes of Abhinav Bindra, Yogeshwar along with IOA president PT Usha and joint secretary Kalyan Chaubey. Shiva Keshvan was special invitee in meeting. This comes after the agitating wrestlers had earlier in the day reached out to the IOA, demanding formation of an enquiry committee to probe the allegations against Singh, a day after threatening to lodge multiple FIRs against the WFI chief. In a letter addressed to IOA president, the wrestlers alleged ...

Deeply concerned, disturbed by wrestling fiasco: IOA chief P T Usha

Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha said she is 'deeply concerned and disturbed' by the sexual harassment allegations by renowned wrestlers against Wrestling Federation of India president

A tough track for Usha

The Indian Olympic Association's governance needs to be stabilised, but it is not going to be a walk in the park even for a president who understands the demands of the fraternity

PT Usha becomes first woman president of Indian Olympic Association

Ushering in a new era in country's sports administration, the legendary PT Usha was on Saturday elected as the first woman president of Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The 58-year-old Usha, a multiple Asian Games gold medallist and fourth place finisher in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics 400m hurdles final, was declared elected unopposed for the top post in the polls. The elections were held under the supervision of Supreme Court-appointed retired SC judge L Nageswara Rao. The election of Usha to the top job marked an end to the long drawn crisis in the faction-ridden IOA, which was warned of a possible suspension by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) if elections are not held this month. The polls were originally due to be held in December 2021. Usha's anointment to the top post was a forgone conclusion late last month after she emerged as the lone candidate for the top post. Nobody was willing to fight against Usha, who was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the ruling Bhar

No contest for vice-president in IOA elections after candidature withdrawal

Six-time Winter Olympian Shiva Keshavan on Saturday withdrew his candidature for an executive council member's position ahead of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) elections. Rowing Federation of India president Rajlaxmi Singh Deo will be elected unopposed to the post of vice president (female) in the December 10 elections after Alaknanda Ashok of Badminton Association of India pulled out on the last day of withdrawal. Keshavan, who had filed nomination papers for one of the four positions of the ordinary executive council members, withdrew his candidature to avoid "division of votes" among candidates from winter sports. Ice Skating Association of India's Amitabh Sharma and Ice Hockey Association of India's Harjinder Singh are also candidates for executive council members. "I decided to withdraw as it made no sense to have three people from winter sports that would divide votes. Winter sports would have been left out," Keshavan, who is a representative of Luge Federation of India

Legendary sprinter P T Usha becomes first woman president of IOA

P T Usha will be the first woman president of the Indian Olympic Association in its 95-year history and the first Olympian and an international medalist to head the national Olympics committee

PT Usha set to be elected as IOA chief; first woman occupant of top job

The legendary PT Usha is set to become the first woman president of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as she emerged as the lone candidate for the top post for the December 10 elections. The 58-year-old Usha, a multiple Asian Games gold medallists and a fourth-place finisher in the 1984 Olympics 400m hurdles final, filed her nomination papers for the top job on Sunday along with her team for the various posts. The deadline to file nomination papers for the IOA elections ended on Sunday. IOA elections returning officer Umesh Sinha did not receive any nominations on Friday and Saturday but 24 candidates filed nominations for various posts on Sunday. Usha, a top sprinter in her heyday, has also been elected as one of the eight Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) by the Athletes Commission of the IOA, making her an electoral college member. She will also become the first Olympian and first international medallist to head the IOA in its 95-year-old history, adding another feather in

PT Usha to contest for Indian Olympic Association president's post

Legendary track and field star of India PT Usha will contest for the president's post in the upcoming Indian Olympic Association (IOA) elections

P T Usha throws her hat into IOA ring, to fight for president's post

In a surprise development, the legendary P T Usha on Saturday announced that she will contest for the post of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president when the sports body holds its election on December 10. Usha, a multiple gold medallists in the Asian Games and fourth place finisher in the 1984 Olympics 400m hurdles final, made the announcement through a tweet. "With the warm support of my Fellow Athletes and National Federations I am humbled and honoured to accept and file for the Nomination of the President Of IOA!," Usha tweeted. The deadline to file nomination papers for the IOA elections ends on Sunday. Usha, a top sprinter of her times, has also been elected as one of the eight Sports Persons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) by the Athletes Commission of the IOA. IOA elections returning officer Umesh Sinha said in an official statement that there were no nominations filed on Friday and Saturday.

SC approves timeline for IOA executive committee poll to be held on Dec 10

The Supreme Court on Thursday approved a fresh timeline submitted by the Justice (retired) L N Rao committee for the election of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) executive committee, to be held on December 10. A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Hima Kohli also allowed circulation of the draft amended constitution among members of the IOA so that it could be adopted in the general body meeting scheduled to be held on November 10. It said former apex court judge Justice L N Rao has submitted a note dated November 2 which indicates the comprehensive exercise which has been carried out by him on an expedited basis and this court appreciates the alacrity with which the assignment has been taken up in the national interest. The bench noted that the judge has interacted with all stakeholders including the International Olympic Committee, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and State Associations. "There is a broad consensus in terms of the note submitted by Justice L Nageswara Rao t

IOC releases first visual identity to bolster Olympic brand's core values

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has released its first-ever visual identity in order to bring the Olympic brand and its core values to life, the IOC announced on Wednesday

SC appoints retired apex court judge for amending constitution of IOA

The Supreme Court Thursday appointed former apex court judge Justice L Nageswara Rao for amending constitution of Indian Olympic Association and preparing electoral college. A bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud said the ex-top court judge would ensure a fair and development-oriented approach for the future of the Olympics in the country. The apex court asked Justice Rao to prepare a road map for amending the constitution and holding elections by December 15, 2022. It also gave its permission to Rajeev Mehta, who is currently the secretary general of IOA, and Adille Sumariwalla, vice president of IOA, to participate in the September 27 meeting with the International Olympic Committee. "All logistical arrangements shall be made available to Justice Rao by the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and to be reimbursed by IOA," the bench, also comprising Justice Hima Kohli, said. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on September 8 issued a final warning to I

Anil Khanna resigns as Indian Olympic Association acting president

Senior sports administrator Anil Khanna on Wednesday resigned as acting president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), saying he respects the views of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

IOC postpones Mumbai session, threatens to suspend India from Olympics

International Olympic Committee Executive Board postponed the 140th IOC Session to be held in Mumbai from May 2023 to September/October and threatened to suspend India from the Olympic movement again

Indian Olympic Association moves SC against HC's order to conduct elections

Indian Olympic Association moved the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court's recent order which appointed the Committee of Administrators to prepare the Constitution and conduct fresh elections.

Delhi HC-appointed CoA will not take over affairs of IOA, says SC

In an interim relief, the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered status quo and said the Delhi High Court-appointed three-member Committee of Administrators (COA) will not take over the affairs of the Indian Olympic Association. A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and the IOA, that the world sports body does not recognise any un-elected bodies like the CoA and consequently, India may be barred from taking part in international sports events. The top court took note of the submissions of the law officer that the order may have negative repercussions on the nation and granted the interim relief ordering status quo into the affairs of the IOA. Consequently, the Delhi High Court-appointed COA, comprising former Supreme Court judge Justice Anil R Dave, former Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi, and former Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarup, will not be able to take IOA ...

Reliance joins Indian Olympic Association as its principal partner

India's most valuable company, Reliance, said it would support the country's athletes in major multi-sport events as part of a long-term partnership with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA)

IOC threatens to suspend IOA if it fails to conduct elections amid concerns

Concerned at the state of affairs of the Indian Olympic Association, the International Olympic Committee has threatened to suspend the governing body if it fails to conduct its election within weeks

Narinder Batra: Once the boss of Indian hockey, now under the CBI lens

CBI, in April, had initiated a preliminary investigation against Batra for misappropriation of Rs 35 lakh, originally belonging to Hockey India