International Olympic Committee

IOC urges sports federations to halt events in Indonesia over Israel ban

The International Olympic Committee has recommended global sports federations cease holding events in Indonesia after the country barred Israeli athletes from the ongoing gymnastics world championships in Jakarta. The IOC's executive board issued a statement on Wednesday saying it was also ending "any form of dialogue" with Indonesia about hosting future Olympic events. An Indonesian government official declared earlier this month that Israeli athletes would be denied visas to participate in the world championships, which started last Sunday and run through this weekend. Israel was among 86 teams registered to compete, and its squad included 2020 Olympic gold medalist and defending world champion Artem Dolgopyat in the men's floor exercise. "These actions deprive athletes of their right to compete peacefully and prevent the Olympic movement from showing the power of sport," the IOC's executive board said. Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation and has long b

Khelo Bharat Niti may let Indian-origin athletes compete abroad

Players of Indian origin living abroad will be encouraged to play for the country, according to the newly-unveiled National Sports Policy, also referred to as the Khelo Bharat Niti, signalling a departure from the government's earlier stance that only Indian passport holders can represent the country. The ban on Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card holders from representing the country in 2008 has affected India's growth in sports such as football and tennis. However, the 20-page Khelo Bharat Niti document stated that India will seek Peace & International Cooperation Activities through Sports so that "Sports can serve as a powerful tool for international diplomacy and cooperation." "Wherever feasible, promising and prominent Indian-origin athletes living abroad may be encouraged to come back and play for India at the international level," it states. "Together, these efforts can transform sport into a dynamic tool of cultural diplomacy and nation-building, strengthening the global

International Olympic Day 2025: History, significance, theme and more

International Olympic Day is celebrated on June 23 every year across the world to celebrate the honour of the Olympic spirit. Here's all you need to know

Ten major stadiums to be built in Ahmedabad for 2036 Olympics: Amit Shah

Union Minister Amit Shah on Sunday laid the foundation stone of the Rs 316.82 crore 'Para High Performance Centre' in Gandhinagar virtually and reiterated India's resolve to host the 2036 Olympics.He said 10 big stadiums are going to be built at the Sardar Patel Sports Complex, located next to the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, he said. "India has resolved to hold the 2036 Olympic Games in these 10 complexes. Gujarat has already started preparations for this event," Shah said. The Para High Performance Centre will play an important role in providing world-class training to Gujarat's para athletes through excellent infrastructure for state-level, national-level and international competitions, Shah said. "It will provide a platform for the strengths of the differently-abled. In the past, people used derogatory words for the differently-abled, which created a sense of inferiority in them. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has instilled confidence in the differently-abled by giving them the

India joins race to host 2036 Olympics with formal letter of intent to IOC

The buzz around India's bid to host the prestigious Olympics has been doing rounds since the Paris Olympics was held in France in August

12 EC members write to IOC accusing IOA chief PT Usha for 'autocracy'

The feud between Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha and revolting Executive Council members took another ugly turn after a dozen of them shot off a letter to senior IOC official Jerome Poivey accusing the legendary athlete of running the organization in an "autocratic" manner. During Thursday's meeting, there was a bitter confrontation during the IOA meeting where the embattled Usha outrightly rejected their appeal of removing Raghuram Iyer from CEO's post. In a letter to Poivey, the head of Institutional Relations and Governance at the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who attended the stormy IOA Executive Council meeting via video-conference, the 12 EC members said they want the the national body to be governed "democratically". Usha, on her part, has already said that the appointment of Iyer was done by strictly adhering to the IOA constitution in an EC meeting on January 5, which was video-graphed, and there was no reason to backtrack from that decision. Th

Human touch in Vinesh case, but where do you draw line: IOC President Bach

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach on Friday said he has a "certain understanding" for Vinesh Phogat, who has challenged her disqualification from Olympic finals in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but also wondered where would one draw the line after allowing small concessions in certain situations. The 29-year-old was disqualified for being 100gm overweight ahead of her 50kg category gold medal bout on Wednesday. She then appealed against her disqualification in CAS, demanding that she be awarded a joint silver medal before eventually announcing her retirement from the sport. "I must say, I have a certain understanding for the wrestler; it's clearly a human touch," said Bach, during an IOC media conference here. "Now, it's (appeal) in CAS. We will, at the end, follow the CAS decision. But, again, the international (wrestling) federation, they have to apply their interpretation, their rules. This is their responsibility," he added. Asked if two ..

Rules can't be changed retrospectively: UWW prez on Vinesh disqualification

The United World Wrestling (UWW) president Nenad Lalovic categorically informed Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha that the current weigh-in rule that led to the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from women's freestyle 50 kg final "cannot be changed in retrospect" while sympathising with the grappler for the turmoil she is going through. Vinesh, who was in the final of the 50 kg category was found overweight by 100 gram during the second day's mandatory weigh-in, leading to her disqualification from the gold medal match. "On IOA's suggestion that a wrestler's results from the day on which the athlete met the weigh-in requirements should not be disqualified, the UWW President was sympathetic. UWW will also discuss the suggestion at an appropriate platform but it could not be done retrospectively," the said UWW in a statement which would certainly ring good for Vinesh. Meanwhile, the Indian wrestler has also appealed against disqualification from Olympic finals in the

Paris Olympics 2024: Nita Ambani, PT Usha, others inaugurate India House

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, Nita Ambani welcomed the world to the 'India House' to experience the beauty, diversity and rich heritage of India

Vegan Tuna to Daal-roti: Indian athletes' diet at Paris Olympics 2024

There will be separate stalls available in Paris with classic Indian dishes along with new-age dishes for all Indian athletes and travelling fans during the 15-day period of the tournament.

Paris Olympics 2024: Nita Ambani unanimously re-elected as IOC member

Nita Ambani was first appointed to join the prestigious body in 2016, at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games

India to push its 2036 Olympic bid in Paris, seek inclusion of Indic sports

India's sports administrators would be "lobbying" hard during the upcoming Paris Olympics to brighten the country's chances of hosting the 2036 Games where they will push for the inclusion of indigenous disciplines like yoga, kho kho and kabaddi if their ambitious bid is successful. The Sports Authority of India's Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) presented its detailed report on the measures needed for a successful bid to new sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday. In this document, MOC has identified six disciplines, including yoga, kho kho, kabaddi, chess, T20 cricket and squash for inclusion in the 2036 Olympics if the country gets to host the quadrennial extravaganza. "We met the new Sports Minister yesterday and handed him the report. The minister said he will need a few days to go through it. But he asked us to prepare another report on how sports can be a career option in the country, how to build interest among youth, how to bring private players into sports," a senior memb

IOC was tricked by Russian prank callers amid tension ahead of Olympics

The International Olympic Committee believes its president Thomas Bach fell prey to a prank telephone call amid rising tensions with Russia over restrictions on its athletes competing at the Paris Games. The IOC on Thursday detailed a call from people claiming to be from the African Union a similar trick to one played by Russian callers on Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni in September. In Meloni's call, she acknowledged fatigue with the war in Ukraine believing she was talking with officials of the African Union. The IOC said it had calls with a person pretending to be the chair of the African Union Commission wanting to discuss a statement on the politicisation of sport. The IOC and Bach have publicly criticised the Russian state including over plans to organise an international multi-sports event in September, weeks after the Paris Olympics close. Russian athletes who pass vetting to compete in Paris also will not take part in the opening ceremony parade of boats on the River Sei

IOA appoints Raghuram lyer as its CEO after meticulous selection process

IOA president PT Usha spoke on behalf of the Nomination Committee and expressed confidence in lyer's ability to steer the IOA to new heights

Indian Olympic Association appoints ex-IPL official Raghuram Iyer as CEO

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Friday appointed Indian Premier League side Rajasthan Royals' former official Raghuram Iyer as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), a year after it was due and following repeated reminders from the IOC. The IOA said Iyer was appointed as its CEO after a "meticulous selection process conducted by the nomination committee". "After careful consideration and thorough interviews with the shortlisted candidates, the nomination committee unanimously selected Mr Raghuram Iyer for the role of CEO," the IOA said in a statement. "His wealth of experience and proven track record in sports management and administration makes him an ideal candidate to lead the IOA in its mission to promote and develop Olympic sports in India," it said. Iyer had earlier served as CEO of IPL sides Rajasthan Royals and Rising Pune Supergiants. As per the new Constitution drafted by a Supreme Court-constituted panel and approved by the IOC, the IOA was to appoint a CEO who would ..

Russia, IOC clash at UN before states pass Olympic Truce for Paris Games

Russia clashed with the International Olympic Committee on the floor of the United Nations before 118 member states voted to adopt a traditional truce around the 2024 Paris Summer Games. Two years ago, Russia voted for the previous Olympic Truce resolution then flagrantly breached it by invading Ukraine four days after the 2022 Winter Games closed in Beijing. Relations between Russia and IOC President Thomas Bach have not recovered since though the Olympic body eased its initially tough stance of exclusion by urging sports bodies to let some athletes compete as neutral individuals with no symbols of national identity. Such conditions are completely unacceptable, Russian diplomat Maria Zabolotskaya said Tuesday speaking immediately before Bach in the Olympic Truce debate at the UN in New York. The height of hypocrisy and cynicism the likes of which we have not seen in recent history has been the illegal barring of Russian athletes from international sporting competitions, said ...

Cricket among five sports included in Los Angeles Olympics 2028 programme

Cricket was on Monday officially included in the programme for the 2028 Los Angles, marking the sport's return to the Summer Games after 123 years. Besides cricket, which will be played in T20 format, the other sports approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during its 141st session, were squash, baseball/softball, lacrosse and flag football. "The proposal from the Organising Committee of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 (@LA28) to include five new sports in the programme has been accepted by the IOC Session. "Baseball/softball, cricket (T20), flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and squash will be in the programme at LA28," posted the IOC on X, formerly Twitter. The proposal to include the five sports recommended by LA28 Organising Committee was opposed by only two of the 99 IOC members, who participated in voting. IOC president Thomas Bach made the announcement of cricket's inclusion along with other sport after the recommendation of the Executive Board was put to vote

Would like to thank IOC for support: ICC on cricket's inclusion in Olympics

ICC) Chairman Greg Barclay also said that the confirmation of the sport's inclusion in the Olympics coming during the ICC Cricket World Cup is "truly an icing on cake"

We are 'following & supporting' UWW to resolve Indian wrestling issues: IOC

The International Olympic Committee is "closely" following the developments in Indian wrestling and "supporting" the United World Wrestling in resolving the issue, said the IOC director of communication Mark Adams on Sunday. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has been suspended by United World Wrestling (UWW) for not conducting elections in the given time frame. Indian wrestlers competed at the World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia in September under the UWW flag because of the national federation's suspension. Adams, who is here for the IOC Session when asked if the International Olympic Committee had spoken to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) or any other officials about the issues concerning wrestling, said, "We are keeping across this one very closely, but the Wrestling Federation (UWW), which is the key interlocutor in this case, and we are following and supporting them (UWW), so I think most of your question is best directed to the Wrestling Federation (UWW)." The IOA

Olympian ideals

Bidding for the 2036 games is ambitious