India back in Olympic family, flag will fly at Sochi after all
The ban imposed on the Indian Olympic Association has been revoked by International Olympic Committee. The Indian flag will now be part of the closing ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has revoked the ban imposed on Indian Olympic Association (IOA), paving the way for India's return to the Olympic fold. The decision comes just days after IOA held elections as per IOC directives. (Official announcement from IOC)
Under pressure from IOC and India's sports ministry to adhere to the Olympic Charter and bar chargesheeted officials from contesting elections, the IOA had conducted its polls on Sunday. N. Ramachandran - brother of Board of Control for Cricket in India boss N. Srinivasan - was elected unopposed as president of IOA.
Ramachandran had said upon his appointment that his main objective was to have the Indian flag at the Sochi Winter Olympics - a goal which is now achieved as the the flag will be unfurled at the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics currently underway in Russia. Three Indian athletes including Shiva Keshavan are competing and they will walk out with the Indian flag.
The news also comes as a huge relief for Indian athletes as they will now be able to represent the country in big events slated for this year including the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and Asian Games.
The entire controversy had erupted when India were suspended by the IOC in December 2012 for electing tainted men like Lalit Bhanot (secretary general) and Abhay Singh Chautala (president). IOC insisted that IOA must adhere to the Olympic Charter and that charge-sheeted persons should not be allowed to contest elections. IOA paid the price for defying the parent body saying the law of the land allowed Bhanot and Chautala to occupy chairs in the national Olympic committee.