India's joint meeting with IOC postponed
The IOC has suspended the Indian Olympic Association and wants an early resolution to all disputes before re-admitting the national Olympic committee into the Olympic fold.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: April 18, 2013 04:28 PM IST
The much-anticipated joint meeting between representatives of the suspended IOA, the Sports Ministry and the International Olympic Committee, to find a way in resolving the issues that led to India's ban from the Olympics, has been postponed from May 7 to May 15. India hope to put up a united front in front of the International Olympic Committee when they meet in Lausanne on May 15.
A press release from the sports ministry on Wednesday says "a large number of issues were discussed and a common consensus approach was arrived at" during a meeting in New Delhi between sports minister Jitendra Singh and Randhir Singh, a member of the IOC.
The release, that does not have any detail of the issues discussed, adds: "This (issues) will be discussed with all stake holders and the ministry hopes that India will be able to put up a common front in the meeting with IOC at Lausanne."
The IOC has suspended the Indian Olympic Association and wants an early resolution to all disputes before re-admitting the national Olympic committee into the Olympic fold.
The IOC had originally wanted the meeting to be held in March, but had extended the dates to April and then to May 7.
In its earlier letter, the IOC had categorically mentioned, "the main purpose of this meeting will be to agree on an action plan and a road map, with clear deadlines, to sort out all pending issues and to allow for free, fair, democratic and transparent elections within the IOA on the basis of a revised IOA Constitution and the Olympic Charter, without any outside interference".
The sports ministry wants all national federations to adopt the Sports Bill that restricts the age and tenure of officials heading sports bodies. A number of officials are reluctant to adopt the Bill.