New Delhi: Indian Olympic Association (IOA) acting President Vijay Kumar Malhotra today made an impassioned plea to the Prime Minister to withdraw the Sports Code urgently so that India is not disaffiliated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Prof Malhotra sent an urgent letter to the Prime Minister after receiving a IOC communiqué late in the evening in which the World Body had threatened IOA with a suspension if it goes ahead with the Elections as per the sports code.
In the letter to the Prime Minister Prof Malhotra said “ I have just received a letter from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in which it has threatened to disaffiliate the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) if its elections scheduled to be held here on 5th December are held as per the Sports Code of the Government of India.
"You may recall that an IOA delegation led by me had called upon you in June 2011 to apprise about the serious ramifications which will follow if the Government keep insisting on passing a National sports Development Bill."
Though the Government dropped the bill but the Sports Code is still in existence and the IOC has made it clear that it will not accept /recoganise any election to IOA conducted under this Sports Code.
IOC has sought a clear and write guarantees from IOA that elections will be held strictly on the basis of the Olympic charter and the IOA’s constitution.
IOC letter further said “We inform you that a proposal for suspension of your NOC will be presented to the IOC Executive Board at its next meeting on December 4-5 2012 based on Rules 27.9 and 59.1.4 of the Olympic Charter”.
Given the gravity of the situation, as the fate of thousands of Indian sports persons is linked with it, I sincerely appeal to you to immediately ask the Sports ministry to withdraw this Sports Code.
Disaffiliation from the IOC will not be a good for the reputation and prestige of the Country. It will seriously impede our progress in sports and demoralize the sports persons.
India at this stage can ill afford such a situation, hence the request you to step in and urgently withdraw this ill conceived Sports Code.
By Indian Sports News Network