Still to be determined is whether the few Indian athletes who have qualified for Sochi compete for their country or under the Olympic flag. IOC gave a reprieve to India’s suspended national Olympic body on Tuesday after a long impasse that had threatened to lead to the expulsion of the world’s second most populous nation.
The move came two days after the Indian Olympic Association amended its constitution to bar any officials charged with a crime from running for election, as demanded by IOC.
‘We think that is a major step in the right direction. We are now looking forward to the implementation of the new rules by transparent and open and democratic elections inIOA,’ IOC president Thomas Bach said.
Had India not fallen into line by Tuesday, it risked becoming the first country kicked out of the Olympic movement since South Africa was expelled in 1970 for its apartheid policies. The Indian body was suspended by IOC last December after electing secretary-general Lalit Bhanot, who spent 10 months in jail on corruption charges related to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
Bach said IOA remains suspended pending the holding of elections under the new constitution.
Although the new elections will not take place until Feb. 9, two days after the start of the Sochi Olympics, Bach said IOC has ‘taken precautions for the athletes and made sure the athletes will not suffer from this procedure.’
The move came two days after the Indian Olympic Association amended its constitution to bar any officials charged with a crime from running for election, as demanded by IOC.
‘We think that is a major step in the right direction. We are now looking forward to the implementation of the new rules by transparent and open and democratic elections inIOA,’ IOC president Thomas Bach said.
Had India not fallen into line by Tuesday, it risked becoming the first country kicked out of the Olympic movement since South Africa was expelled in 1970 for its apartheid policies. The Indian body was suspended by IOC last December after electing secretary-general Lalit Bhanot, who spent 10 months in jail on corruption charges related to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
Bach said IOA remains suspended pending the holding of elections under the new constitution.
Although the new elections will not take place until Feb. 9, two days after the start of the Sochi Olympics, Bach said IOC has ‘taken precautions for the athletes and made sure the athletes will not suffer from this procedure.’