IOA Lives Up to Poor Reputation Despite Ambitious Bid to Host Olympics

New Delhi: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has once again failed to live up to expectations, despite making a commendable submission of a letter of intent to host the 2036 Olympic Games, according to sources.

The IOA's internal bickering and turf wars have become an ongoing saga that reflects poorly on India's sports administration. The October milestone itself was marred by dramatic events, including a public spat between the PT Usha-led IOA and its own Executive Council members over the appointment of a new CEO.

IOA president PT Usha denied allegations of exerting pressure on her to appoint Raghuram Iyer as the CEO, calling it "shameful". However, the drama did not bring an end to the internal conflicts and both sides issued separate notices for a Special General Body Meeting (SGM).

The IOA's submission of its 2036 Olympics bid was a positive development that kick-started a difficult journey. The organization has pledged an athlete-centric approach under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and new sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

However, concerns remain over the IOA's future regulatory framework, with the government proposing a Draft Sports Bill that has sparked controversy within the sports fraternity. The bill is aimed at providing transparency and accountability in the operations of the IOA and National Sports Federations but has not been well-received by everyone.

India's high-performing sports like hockey, shooting, cricket, badminton, and wrestling were excluded from the scaled-down 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, citing financial constraints. The move sparked an uproar but the host city's right to choose its schedule remains undisputed.

Despite the setbacks, veteran sports administrator Randhir Singh has been elected president of the Olympic Council of Asia and shooting legend Abhinav Bindra was awarded the Olympic Order by the IOC for his outstanding services to the Olympic Movement. Nita Ambani was re-elected as an independent IOC member.

Looking ahead, 2025 could be a watershed year with clarity expected on India's 2036 Olympics bid. Multiple countries have expressed interest in hosting the games, including Poland, Indonesia, South Africa, Qatar, Hungary, Turkey, Mexico, and Egypt.

For the Indian sports fraternity, it seems that a fresh start is needed to address the long-standing issues plaguing the IOA and restore confidence in India's sporting ambitions.