New Delhi: In a far reaching move the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has decided to involve eminent sportspersons in preparations of the contingent for the 2012 London Games. Veteran sports administrator K.P.Singh Deo has been named as the convener of the high powered Olympic Games (2012) Monitoring committee.
The IOA has also constituted another four-member empowered committee to be headed by All India Tennis Association (AITA) secretary General Anil Khanna to look after the Marketing Committee (sponsorship and TV rights) for the Olympics.
IOA Acting President Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra said by forming of these committees along with setting up of Arbitration and Ethics commission “We have fulfilled our commitment to make the IOA more inclusive and transparent”.
“Now more sportspersons will have to share the responsibility in training and preparing the teams for the International events” he said.
Singh Deo is also the chairman of Sports development commission of IOA. He was chef de mission of Indian contingent in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. A man of vast experience, he was also president of Rowing Federation of India (RFI).
The other members of the monitoring committee are: Prof Vijay Kumar Malhotra (Chairman), Randhir Singh (Vice chairman), President or Secretary General of every qualifying federation and one sportspersons as “athlete representative” from each qualifying Federation.
Prof Malhotra asserted that IOA will make all efforts to generate its own resources for sending the contingent to London. “We have set up a marketing committee with knowledgeable people and experts in the field so that we do not have to depend on Government grants”.
The Marketing Committee (sponsorship and TV rights) London Olympics comprises Anil Khanna,(Chairman), Raninder Singh( President NRAI), S.Ragunathan (President Kayaking and Canoeing Association ) and and N.Ramachandran ( Treasurer IOA).
The IOA chief said the formation of three members Ethics Commission was as per the IOC charter.
The Ethics committee comprises of: Justice Umesh Banerjee (Retd) Supreme Court, Justice R.L. Khurana, (Retd) High Court and Justice MSA Sididdiqui (Retd) High Court.
Prof Malhotra maintained that IOA will do everything to become more financially viable and also make sportspersons feel that they are part of the Olympic movement in the country.