To the knowledge of everyone, this week has been hectic for various sports officials in the Capital who is aware that India got discarded from the Olympic Movement when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspended it on 4th December, 2012.
It cannot be ignored that the impression now being given is that officials from "all sides" are on the same page and are seriously involved in productive meetings so that when the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) general body assembles here on 25th August, meaningful decisions are taken.
Remarkably, the IOC has clarified that it wants the amendments in the IOA constitution put in place so that those who disobey its prescription become ineligible. However, the worst affected will be the persons who have been convicted in a court of law or have been charge-sheeted. It is clear that several officials are bothered as the vital amendment on age and tenure limits will imply the old bandicoots will not have any opportunity to run or ruin the affairs of India's Olympics.
Interestingly, on a day when Sports Minister Jitendra Singh clarified that his ministry entirely supports the conditions being advocated by the IOC, meetings in the Capital along with officials in the IOA suggested something different.
It can be expected that 25th August could well turn out to be a dud as a single man who has a big say in many affairs relating to India's Olympic Movement is presently advocating a very different line.
According to the insiders, who have been part of the meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday there is every probability that the 25th August meeting will not pass any kind of amendment as suggested by the IOC. Instead, one significant member from India, who has excellent links with the IOC, has promised the assorted bunch of officials that he will handle the headquarters in Lausanne.
Apparently, the promise at present being made by the significant person in India is that once the IOC elections are over on 10th September, 2013, he will speak with the new IOC president and discuss matters relating to India. Till that time, the appeal to the IOC observers is supposed to be "India needs more time to go through the amendments suggested," although Narinder Batra conveyed his suggestions last week without delay and it was rejected by Lausanne.
According to the record, even officials who after this incident cannot take part in the Indian Olympic Movement are Abhay Chautala, Lalit Bhanot, V.K. Malhotra as well as Tarlochan Singh are currently actively involved in meetings with the IOC member in India, Randhir Singh.
It has also been learnt that numerous officials in India were actually planning to move a no-confidence motion against Randhir since "they have no faith in him." However, Randhir was not available for any comment.
Surprisingly, eight months have slipped away since the IOC suspended India from the Olympic Movement. But nobody who claims to be augmenting sport in India is really concerned about how athletes are suffering due to the suspension. Moreover, the question which requires to be answered is that if the IOC observers are arriving from Lasuanne and nothing is going to happen from the Sunday general body, then why not write to them in advance and ask for more time? To be frank, these are desperate measures and which may stake personal continuity in office and power.
Perhaps, the time is up when the sports ministry, which played an enormous role in meeting the IOC three months ago, wakes up and realizes what types of games are being played away from the sporting fields. Reportedly Batra, who did not attend the meeting on Wednesday night, was held at a politician's residence.
