Having put an internal rift behind it, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is now expecting to retrieve the Olympic Solidarity grant, which was suspended last year by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for factionalism within the national top sports body. The IOC Executive Board, in its October 8 last year decision, halted the grant for athlete development programs after the IOA had a bitter September 26, 2024 meeting where 12 Executive Council members had declined to approve the appointment of Raghuram Iyer as CEO of the sports body.
PT Usha Hopeful of IOC Grant Release
But now that the house is in order, IOA President PT Usha is keeping fingers crossed that the IOC would release the grant shortly. A Special General Body Meeting (SGM) as well as Executive Council meeting was smoothly held on Wednesday after a ceasefire was declared on July 24 between Usha and the mutinous EC members who were in majority.
“The IOC will be happy that we are working together. We have done a lot of things now, and we will meet again,” Usha told PTI on the sidelines of the IOA SGM called to approve India’s 2030 Commonwealth Games bid.
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“Whatever they have (IOC) withheld, that we are going to get now. They withheld our Olympic Solidarity grant. We were waiting for the SGM. We will give the report to them and then they will release the money.
“That (Olympic Solidarity) is not a small amount, it is Rs 15 crore. We will get it.” Olympic Solidarity provides assistance to all National Olympic Committees (NOCs), a share of the broadcast rights from the Olympic Games which is to be used for athlete development programmes.
Under Olympic Solidarity, athletes can be granted scholarships and subsidies, which help them to train and qualify for the Olympic Games.
The IOC had withheld the grant to the IOA after the reports of allegations and counter-allegations from several quarters regarding the “unfortunate situation” in the IOA.
India’s 2030 Commonwealth Games Bid
The IOA General Body had approved India’s bid for the 2030 CWG unanimously, and India had emerged as the favourite to host the event.
Iyer stated that if India becomes the host, then they will make it a technology driven event with the use of Artificial Intelligence.
“The focus for the Commonwealth Sport (earlier CGF) and for us also is on sustainability, legacy of the Games will have to be the host city and the country. 2030 CWG will be technology-driven with strong emphasis on the incorporation of AI,” he said.
IOC Host Selection Process on Hold
‘India in dialogue with IOC despite “pause” in host selection process’
New IOC President Kirsty Coventry has stated that the whole Olympic host selection process is being suspended and a working group being formed to determine the “appropriate time” to select a future host.
Iyer indicated the IOA, who have already submitted the Expression of Interest to stage the 2036 Olympics, have been in contact with the IOC in spite of the “pause” on the entire process.
Continued Dialogue With IOC on 2036 Olympics
“We are in a continuous dialogue… means today I can pick up the phone and ask IOC if their are some doubts. They (IOC) can call us and check on certain things.
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“They themselves have decided to pause and reflect. They are trying to sort out how is it that they want to approach the whole idea of allotting the Olympics. They want a re-look at it.
“When we met them, it was like a workshop, as to what we need to do, a lot of focus on sustainability, on diversity, on equal opportunity, on more women coming into… there is a lot of discussion on all these things.” Asked when a 2036 Olympics Bid Committee will be formed, he said, “I think everything would be formed now. Only there are certain contours of the committee. You will hear about it soon.”
