Indian Olympic Association Resolves Internal Conflicts Ahead of 2036 Olympics Bid

Resolution of Internal Disputes in the Indian Olympic Association

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has successfully reconciled its internal disputes, with President PT Usha leading the charge. On Thursday, during the announcement of 'Powering India’s Sporting Aspirations: IOA’s Vision 2036', the factions presented a united front, committing to work towards Olympic success and the goal of hosting the Olympic Games in India.

This unexpected harmony was prompted by a warning from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and encouragement from officials within the Sports Ministry, as ongoing conflicts threatened India's chances of securing the 2036 Olympics.

Earlier this month, the IOC had urged Usha and her team, who traveled to Lausanne to advocate for their bid, to resolve their issues, enhance doping control measures, and improve medal prospects to strengthen their proposal.

A key factor in this newfound unity is the formal approval of Raghuram Iyer as the IOA's chief executive officer. Tensions had arisen among the 12 executive committee members following Iyer's controversial appointment, which came with a reported salary of Rs 25 lakh per month. Although Iyer agreed to a salary reduction, disagreements persisted, with some members threatening a no-confidence motion against Usha.

When questioned about Iyer's status, Usha stated, 'Everything is sorted now, and that is why he is sitting here with me. Everything is being conducted the right way. Everything is ratified.'

IOA joint secretary Kalyan Chaubey confirmed that Iyer's appointment was officially ratified during a meeting on Thursday morning. 'We had an EC meeting today, and Raghuram Iyer’s appointment was ratified,' he stated.

IOA treasurer Sahdev Yadav acknowledged past differences but emphasized that they are now resolved. 'It was a small bickering, and we are back together. We had some disputes amongst ourselves, but we are happy to be together again,' he remarked.

Reports indicate that Iyer has agreed to a revised salary of Rs 15 lakh. However, discussions regarding the pending salary of Captain Ajay Narang, Usha's executive assistant, were not addressed. An EC member assured that all outstanding salaries would be settled soon, stating, 'There is nothing to worry here. Captain Narang’s dues and all other dues will be cleared soon.'

In an interesting development, the IOA plans to convene a Special General Meeting (SGM) on August 11 to address all outstanding dues and finalize financial reports.