IOA to discuss govt guidelines on age and tenure at AGM

With the government guidelines on age and tenure of sports administrators high on their agenda, the Indian Olympic Association will have its annual general meeting at a city hotel here on saturday.

The government had restored the contentious clause, relating to age and tenure of office-bearers of the National Sports Federations (NSFs) in May last year.

IOA had refused to adhere to the guidelines while more than 24 NSFs had agreed to fall in line.

As per the rules, the term of the Presidents of the NSFs, including the IOA, is restricted to a maximum of 12 years with or without a break.

Earlier, it was eight years on the trot.

The secretary and the treasurer may serve a maximum of two successive terms of four years each after which a minimum 'cooling off period' of four years will apply before the person is allowed to seek fresh election to either post.

Adding to that, the office-bearers will have to retire on attaining the age of 70.

"We will discuss the government guidelines in tomorrow's AGM. We will try to bring in sportpersons into the administration," IOA president Suresh Kalmadi said here today.

Asked whether the IOA is likely to ammend its constitution, an office bearer of a state association said, "The decision will be unanimous, whatever it is. But do expect some changes."

It has also restricted the age limit of federation officials to 70 years.

Asked whether Kalmadi will step down from IOA, he said, "Why should he? His term ends in 2012..."

Kalmadi is heading the IOA for the third term in a row beginning 1996.

However, the guidelines would be enforceable only after the expiry of the current tenure of NSFs including IOA, the government had said.

The International Olympic Council had recently directed the Indian body to make necessary amendments in the constitution for good governance, transparency in elections and finances.