Sochi Olympics: Did new IOA boss Ramachandran cold-shoulder Indian athletes?
Indian athletes at the Sochi Winter Olympics are reportedly unhappy with the way the new Indian Olympic Association president N. Ramachandran treated them.
N. Ramachandran, the newly-elected president of Indian Olympic Association may be taking credit for India's swift return to the Olympic fold, but the brother of Board of Control for Cricket in India chief N. Srinivasan, has seemingly failed to earn the 'respect' of Indian athletes at the Winter Olympics in Sochi if a newspaper report is to be believed.
Ramachandran was in Sochi (Russia) when the Indian national flag was unfurled at the Games Village on Sunday. It was an emotional moment but the three Indian athletes present, according to a national daily, have said that the IOA president hardly acknowledged them and left without a word of encouragement or praise. 
"He came to us and we introduced ourselves as we shook hands," an athlete was quoted as saying in the Times of India. The athlete however added that Ramachandran did not speak to them or their three support staff members despite being invited for tea.
It is also learnt that Ramachandran had asked Roshan Thakur - secretary-general of Winter Games Federation of India -- to carry the Indian flag during the closing ceremony on February 23 (Sunday). He was immediately reminded of protocol. "When Roshan introduced himself as the WGFI secretary-general apart from being the support staff of (Alpine skier) Himanshu (Thakur), the IOA president told him to be the flag-bearer at the closing ceremony. At this point the IOC officials interrupted and informed him that it is not customary for a non-athlete to carry the flag. The interaction ended there," the paper said, quoting sources.
Banned since December 2012 for electing charge-framed people like Lalit Bhanot, the IOA elected Ramachandran as president on February 9. When the Sochi Games began, IOA was still under suspension and the three Indians - Shiva Keshavan (luge), Nadeem Iqbal (cross-country skiing) and Thakur (Alpine skiing), participated under the Olympic flag as independent athletes. Post the elections, the IOC allowed India to unfurl the tri-colour in the Games Village.
The hoisting of the national flag was an emotional moment, a good word could have done wonders, say the athletes. After all, this was the first time the IOC had recognized India in the Winter Games.
Ramachandran, however, has refuted the charge that he had cold shouldered the Indian athletes. "I was there with them the whole morning and interacted with each one of them. We also had a joint press conference. I don't know who is making all these baseless charges," he was quoted as saying.