Government decision a face saving move: Randhir Singh

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary general Randhir Singh has hit back strongly after a ‘personal attack’ on him, and dismissed the government’s decision to send an official to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as a “face-saving move”.

The government had on Wednesday criticised Randhir for taking the matter of the controversial government guidelines to the IOC while also making a remark on his 23-year stay in the IOA and his conflict of interest, also being a member of the IOC.

The government also announced it would send a senior official to the IOC headquarters in a bid to sort out the issue following opposition to the guidelines by top federation officials.

“The representative is free to visit the IOC headquarters in Lausanne (Switzerland), but he will be only told about what is already in the Olympic Charter. The books will not be made especially for India. I hope they get an understanding of the situation and re-consider their decision,” Randhir said sarcastically, even as he distributed copies of his ‘curriculum vitae’ that highlighted his achievements as a sportsman and sports administrator.

“The Olympic Charter is very clear. The whole problem has arisen because of a failure to understand it even though there are many brilliant brains in the country capable of studying it,” added Randhir.

 “I have been blamed for approaching the IOC without consulting the government, but then that is my job. I have been targeted unnecessarily,” he said quoting sections of the Charter which were distributed to media persons.

“Members of the IOC will not accept from governments, organisations, or other parties, any mandate or instructions liable to interfere with the freedom of their action and vote,” read section 1.5 pertaining to members.

Under the obligations, a relevant paragraph (2.7) reads thus: “(the IOC member has) to inform the president, without delay, of all events liable to hinder the application of the Olympic Charter or to otherwise adversely affect the Olympic Movement in his country or in the organisation of the Olympic Movement in which he serves.”

Randhir reiterated that the threat of suspension to the IOA was a realistic one. “Kuwait was banned earlier this year because of legislation in Parliament. Little could be done despite the President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) being from Kuwait,” added the six-time Olympian and an Asian Games gold medallist in shooting (at Bangkok in 1978).

The issue was triggered following a litigation filed in the Delhi High Court, which asked the government about the guidelines.

The government decided to put a cap of a maximum of 12 years for President of the IOA and other sports federations and a maximum of two successive four-year terms for the Secretary and Treasurer.