MUMBAI: The International Olympic Committee has set India a September 1 deadline for a new election to facilitate the country’s return to the Olympic fold.
The IOC banned the country in December last year after refusing to recognise the results of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) elections due to government interference, which led to a tainted official being named its secretary general.
During crucial meetings in Lausanne this month, India assured the IOC of the Olympic movement’s autonomy in the country in a first step towards mending relations and also discussed a roadmap towards getting the ban overturned.
“We believe that those meetings were fruitful and productive and, with the cooperation of all components and stakeholders of the Olympic Movement in India, will pave the way for a prompt resolution of the issues at hand,” the IOC said in a letter, seen by Reuters.
The ban meant an end to funding from the IOC for the country, no Indian officials attending Olympic meetings and Indian athletes banned from competing at the Olympics under their country’s flag.
The IOA will have to hold an extraordinary meeting by mid-July to make amendments to its constitution before holding the elections, the letter from IOC director general Christophe De Kepper said.
“The IOA shall hold an Elective General Assembly (no later than 1 September 2013) to elect the new office-bearers of the IOA,” the letter added. Reuters
