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Introduction to The Indian Olympic Association
The Indian Olympic Association was formed in 1927. It is currently based in the Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi, India. Harry Buck and Arthur Noehren were the founders of the IOA. Sir Dorabji Tata was the founding president of the Indian Olympic Association. It is an affiliated member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Commonwealth Games Federation (IGF), Olympic Council of Asia and many more. The Indian Olympic Association is governed by a 32-member Executive council. It acts as a body that selects athletes to represent India for various international events.
Forming of The Indian Olympic Association
India first participated in the 1900 Olympics held in Paris. Sir Dorabji Tata suggested the need for a sports body at the National level to promote Olympic sports in India. The Olympic movement in India was increasing after the 1920 and 1924 Olympics.
In 1923-24, a provisional All India Olympic Committee was set up. This committee organised the All India Olympic Games (National Games of India) in February 1924. 8 athletes from these Games were selected to represent India at the 1924 Paris Summer Olympics. This kick-started the development and institutionalisation of sports in India. Hence, in 1927 the Indian Olympic Association was formed. Sir Dorabji Tata became the first president of the IOA.
Foremost years of the Indian Olympic Association
The Indian Olympic Association was responsible for the selection of athletes for the Olympic Games in 1928, 1932 and 1936. In its first decade, the IOA only selected and sent athletes for international events. From the 1948 Olympics, it started to assign officials to each team representing India. The IOA also assigned Chief managers to the teams. After this, India began sending teams representing various sports each selected by its respective sports federation.
National Games
The Indian Olympic Association held the National Games (Indian Olympics) in 1920. Its main aim was to promote professional sports in India. There was no national sports federation of India. There were individual sports federations for each spot. Their sports federations held their national championships at the Indian National Games. The IOA brought all these federations under one roof.
Governing Body of the Indian Olympic Association
The Indian Olympic Association is governed by a 32-member council. It is currently headed by Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra. The election for the Elective Council is held every four years. The working of the elective council is assisted by different standing committees of the IOA. They are constituted with experts in their field to help in governance. The Executive Council Members, Standing Committees and the Office administers the Olympic committee in India. There are a few members from India in the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Some notable names include Sir Dorabji Tata (1972-32), Mrs Nita Ambani (2016-present), Dr Narinder Batra (2019-present). Raja Randhir Singh is one of the present IOC Honorary Members since 2014.
State Olympic Associations
The State Olympic Associations are smaller bodies that work under the Indian Olympic Association. Their work is similar to the IOA but at a state level. All the rules that came with the IOA apply to the State Olympic Association. They monitor sports at the state level. There are in total 36 State Olympic Associations.
National Sports Federation
National sports federations are divided into two categories:
Olympic Sports and Other recognized Sports
The IOC’s membership includes 38 National Sports Federations. It is divided into four categories:
- Permanent Olympic Sports
- Winter Olympic Sports
- Recognized sports
- Others
Events hosted by the Indian Olympic Association
The Indian Olympic Association started hosting international events in 1951. The first-ever international event was the 1951 Asian games. The IOA has organised 2 Asian Games, 3 South Asian Games, 2010 Commonwealth Games, 2011 South Asian Winter Games, etc.
Conclusion
The Indian Olympics Association held an important role in promoting professional sports in India. It gave people a perspective on sports. People started taking sports as a career. The IOA is a respectable organisation in India and will keep advancing India in sports.
