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IOA to hold elections November 25
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) acting president, VK Malhotra, steered the country's apex sports body away from direct confrontation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by announcing the date for elections.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) acting president, VK Malhotra, steered the country's apex sports body away from direct confrontation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by announcing the date for elections.
The IOC had asked the IOA to announce the date by September 25 or face disciplinary action.
On Monday, Malhotra announced that the IOA would hold elections on November 25.
"It was unanimously decided in the executive board meeting," he said.
Prior to the elections, the IOA will hold a general body meeting on October 18.
This is to ensure that all national sports federations (NSFs), which participate in the Olympics, are a part of the electoral procedure.
According to Malhotra, the IOC wants the National Olympic Committee (NOC) to give more weightage to NSFs that compete in the Olympic Games. For this, the IOA will constitute a standing committee to ensure that such disciplines have majority voting rights in the polls.
To ensure transparency in the elections, a retired judge of a High Court or Supreme Court will be appointed as returning officer.
However, the IOA is yet to decide on the 'IOC observer'. Malhotra brushed aside queries, saying the IOC was firm on just two issues --- election dates and to give more space to NSFs which are part of the Olympic Games.
"It (observer) wasn't on the agenda of the IOC, hence we didn't decide on it," he said.
Malhotra has been adamant on the issue, saying the IOC did not have a practice of sending an observer to NOC elections.
