IOC to monitor situation in India

IOC`s Executive Board said though the Sports Ministry-IOA row over the tenure limitation guidelines has been resolved, IOC would monitor the situation in India to ensure that the Olympic Charter is not violated.

New Delhi: The International Olympic Committee`s Executive Board said though the Sports Ministry-IOA row over the contentious tenure limitation guidelines has been resolved, IOC would monitor the situation in India to ensure that the Olympic Charter is not violated.

"The EB was very satisfied with this outcome, but also stressed that the IOC will monitor the situation and will ensure that the Olympic Charter is respected in India," the Executive Board said after its meeting in IOC`s Lausanne headquarters in Switzerland. Joint secretary I Srinivas led the Sports Ministry delegation while Indian Olympic Association (IOA) was represented by its Secretary General Randhir Singh in the June 18 meeting in Lausanne, which IOC described as "fruitful". "All pending issues were discussed at length and resolved," it said in a statement."It was agreed that the NOC (National Olympic Committee)...would implement the basic principles of good governance in accordance with the Olympic Charter; that the government of India would fully respect the autonomy of the Olympic Movement in India; and that all parties would work together to establish fruitful collaboration based on mutual respect and understanding," it added. At the centre of the Sports Ministry-IOA row are the government guidelines which fixes the term of National Sports Federation (NSF) presidents to a maximum of 12 years, that of secretaries and treasurers to eight years at a stretch besides advocating a retirement age of 70 for all executives.IOA and NSF chiefs are up in arms against the guidelines, calling it an infringment on the federations` autonomy and pointing out that they are governed only by the Olympic Charter. Talking to reporters from Lausanne, Randhir Singh, also an IOC member, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting and said IOA was in constant touch with IOC on the issue of good governance. PTI