LAHORE, May 15: The Indian government bowing to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday over the country’s internal wrangling with its national Olympic body should serve as a timely lesson for Pakistan government which has been at loggerheads with the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) over the implementation of its national sports policy.
Due to government interference and claims of corruption in the affairs of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the IOC suspended India’s membership on Dec 4, 2012. On Wednesday however, the Indian government sent a delegation headed by its Sports Minister Jitendra Singh to the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland for a meeting with Olympic officials to help find a way for bringing the country back to the Olympic fold.
According to an IOC press release issued on Wednesday: “The main purpose of today’s meetings was to explore the possibility for the suspended Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to hold free, fair, democratic and transparent elections on the basis of a revised IOA constitution and the Olympic Charter, with no outside interference, that could pave the way for the IOC to consider lifting its suspension of the IOA.
“Sports Minister Singh gave strong guarantees and a clear commitment that the government of India will fully respect the principle of autonomy of the Olympic Movement. In addition, a mutual understanding was reached to establish close cooperation between all parties concerned.
“It was agreed in particular that the drafting of the new sports bill will be undertaken in close coordination with the IOA and the national federations, and with prior consultation with the IOC to ensure that it will be fully compatible with the principles and rules of the Olympic Movement.
“Following these meetings and subsequent consultation with all the parties involved, the IOC is considering the necessary measures to be taken before lifting the suspension. In particular, it is envisaged that the IOA should hold an extraordinary meeting of its members to review its constitution in order to improve its governance and ethics.
“This would be followed by a fresh general meeting to elect the new office-bearers of the IOA, based on the newly revised constitution and the Olympic Charter.
“The entire process will be closely monitored and supervised by the IOC, which will issue a roadmap for the suspended IOA and all its members to follow,” added the IOC’s press release.
In Pakistan, the Pakistan Sports Board is also trying to impose some of its rules on national sports federations despite the IOC having given its ruling against those rules.
But still the government is emphasising to control the national sports federations through those rules, amid concerns over Pakistan’s suspension by the IOC mounts.
However, taking timely lesson from the result of India’s Olympic membership case, the government of Pakistan should also take appropriate measures to end this tussle with the POA to eventually save the country from Olympic isolation.