Indian Olympic Association (IOA) acting President Vijay Kumar Malhotra on Friday appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to withdraw the Sports Code urgently to stop India from being disaffiliated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Malhotra’s plea comes in the wake of a communiqué from the International Olympic Council (IOC) which threatened IOA with a suspension if it went ahead with the elections as per the sports code.
The letter to the Prime Minister 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 December 5 are held as per the Sports Code of the Government of India.”
Malhotra reminded the Prime Minister, “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 keeps insisting on passing a National Sports Development Bill.”
The Government had subsequently dropped the bill but not the Sports Code.
The IOC has categorically stated that it will not accept /recognise any election to IOA conducted under this Sports Code.
Malhotra concluded, “Given the gravity of the situation, as the fate of thousands of Indian sportspersons 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 good for the reputation and prestige of the country. It will seriously impede our progress in sports and demoralize the sportspersons.”
