It’s a bit perplexing. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has suspended grants to the Indian Olympic Association and asked the NOC (National Olympic Committee) — to set its house in order. At the same time, when the news broke out on Wednesday (November 6) that India is serious about its bid to host the 2036 Olympics and the Paralympics, the IOC office did reach out to the IOA office for more clarity. This shows that the IOC is not taking India’s interest lightly at all, since this is the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He has himself spoken about it a few times.
To be sure, even after the warning from the IOC to the IOA officials to set its house in order, little has moved forward. This is shocking, since at stake is India’s wish to host an Olympics. Nothing is bigger than this, certainly not the egos of various officials in the IOA, who see IOA President PT Usha as some kind of a tyrant. Surprisingly, for some of the well-known officials in the IOA, to allege Usha is “high handed” and does not listen to anyone is wrong. The real issue is king-size egos of the officials, a lack of willingness to sit on the table and talk. As things stand today, it is Usha versus a dozen officials in the IOA.
It is well-known that as per the revised Constitution of the IOA, mandated by the Supreme Court of India and also approved by the IOC, a CEO had to be appointed within a few months after elections were held in December 2022. That dragged on, and All India Football Federation President Kalyan Chaubey was the acting CEO. At the start of 2024, on the insistence of the IOC, a new CEO had to be identified, someone who could fulfill all the criteria set. Importantly, the CEO — Raghuram Iyer — was not chosen by Usha but a separate committee. The SGM requisitioned in September 2024, seeking ratification of the CEO was stonewalled, which the IOC is well aware of.
All those who visited Paris for the 2024 Olympics know that Raghuram was seen at meetings with Usha and the IOC. If a dozen IOA officials are now insisting the salary of the CEO is too high, reportedly at Rs 20 lakhs per month, and he should be thrown out, it would be futile.
To again set in motion a process to find a CEO who will come at Rs 5 lakhs or Rs 7 lakhs per month is absurd. Usha was willing to sit down with the IOA officials and negotiate on his salary. The talks failed. Even now, after a warning has come from the IOC, people are not taking it seriously. The next stage could see India getting suspended, which will be an absolute shame. It will jeopardise the Olympic Movement and leave the nation red-faced. Definitely, there is only one way forward; the officials and the IOA President to sit down and discuss. Each hiring in any organisation is subject to salary being a topic which is dealt with by the HR. There is no HR in the IOA, and unless the CEO is appointed, nothing further can work.
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With news coming from the highest office that India is keen to host the 2036 Olympics, not one IOA official has reacted in a positive way, only Usha has spoken on it. For the cynics, India hosting the Olympics is a joke. Does that mean the NOC makes no effort at all? It is well known, the IOA CEO will be the interface in talks with the Future Host Commission. To keep the appointment of Raghuram hanging fire for 11 months is weird. He has not been paid any salary till now. And all rumours of him being a “plant” of a corporate bigwig are unsubstantiated. The way forward is simple, talk on how the CEO ratification can be done. To baulk it will cause more grief to the IOA and the nation, from the IOC.
As things stand now, the IOA has written a three-page letter to the IOC Future Host Commission. That is not enough. A proper bid document has to be prepared and submitted, which can run into 200 pages. The big bosses want to see a serious plan in place, outlining all details. There is one more issue which is being confused. India hosting the Olympics in 2036 is not about Usha or the honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is about the nation.
And for those who think no work happens in the IOA, despite all the negativity, Usha has been attending to important issues. The National Games will be hosted in Uttarakhand from January 28 to February 14, 2025. Despite all the negativity in the IOA, she has written to the Uttarakhand chief minister that the IOA will do whatever is necessary. “I remain committed to development of sports and any internal issues within the IOA should not impede the timely and smooth organisation of such significant events” says the written letter by Usha, dated November 6, 2024.
A GTCC (Games Technical Conduct Committee) has also been formed, with Sunaina Kumari as the chairperson. Five important committees have been formed and officials from almost 15 NSFs (national sports federations) have been roped in. This goes to show, the IOA President will do her work, despite the hurdles which she has to stride over.
Hopefully, all the IOA officials who say Usha’s style of working is “authoritarian” will understand, she will continue to do the job that she was elected for. Hosting the National Games is important, and for so many budding athletes, it is a great chance to showcase their skills. In the past, the National Games used to get postponed repeatedly. Hopefully, if Usha and all officials can sit, meet and move forward, it will be good for India. At stake is a chance to express intent and show that India is dead serious about hosting the 2036 Olympics. Writing emails and washing dirty linen in public will do no good.
Also Read: India needs to quickly spell out which city will play host to the 2036 Olympics