Supreme Court to appoint a neutral person to run IOA

New Delhi: The Supreme Court announced on Monday that it will appoint an impartial person to run the Indian Olympic Association's administration and that it has also instructed the sports ministry to communicate with the International Olympic Committee. This is a new development in the ongoing saga surrounding the IOA.

The sports ministry contended that the SC should block the Delhi High Court's decision to give the Committee of Administrators control over IOA governance since it would result in suspension due to "third-party interference."

Tushar Mehta, the solicitor general for the Centre, proposed that a former SC judge be chosen to change the IOA constitution, a new electoral college be created, and an election be held.

"The second suggestion is that the governance of administration may be entrusted to a neutral person who shall coordinate with the International Olympic Committee in terms of the letter dated September 8, 2022, of IOC. The IOC has proposed a joint meeting on September 27, 2022, in Lausanne and it is necessary that a person shall coordinate with IOC in close consultation.

To facilitate this exercise, we have requested the Solicitor General indicate that the secretary in the Ministry of Youth Affairs And Sports interact with the Director of Olympic Solidarity and NOC Relations in the International Olympic Committee and revert to this court on the next date of listing," the bench said.

With PTI inputs