The International Olympic Committee’s rejection of India’s request for a tripartite commission place for star boxer M.C. Mary Kom at the Rio Olympics has left many surprised. Nevertheless, it is only as per rules laid down by the IOC to allow maximum representation of countries in the mega event.
The ad-hoc committee of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) managing the boxing affairs in the country had requested the apex body for a quota place for the five-time World champion and London Olympics bronze medallist.
Later, Mary Kom had approached the Indian Olympic Association too with an appeal to try and get a quota place.
It is learnt that the IOC could not accept India’s request for a tripartite quota place as the National Olympic Committee (NOC) was not eligible for such a privilege as per the allocation procedure and regulations of the Rio Olympic Games Tripartite Commission Invitation Places.
“Invitation places can only be allocated to National Olympic Committees with an average of eight or less athletes (quota places) in the individual sports/disciplines at the last two editions of the Olympic Games,” says the NOC eligibility criterion of the allocation procedure.
“As invitation places are available only in individual sports, the following team sports are not included in the calculation of NOC delegation sizes: baseball, basketball, football, handball, hockey, softball, volleyball/beach volleyball and water polo,” it added.
India had sent 56 athletes in individual sports to the Beijing Olympics and 65 (excluding hockey) to the London Games.
The IOC has further underlined its intention of covering maximum countries in its allocation criteria, which includes factors such as universality (by allowing more NOCs to participate in a given sport), continental balance and gender equity.
