IOA rejects proposal for sports bill

The Indian Olympic Association on Tuesday rejected the proposed National Sports Development Bill and said some associations and federations are in agreement with the Sports Ministry because of "arm-twisting" and "bullying" by the government.

The IOA, at its Executive Committee meeting in Delhi, unanimously decided to reject the sports bill and said it is awaiting a written response from the International Olympic Committee on the proposed bill, which they will forward to the government.

"All the members were present today and it was unanimously decided that we reject the proposed sports bill," V K Malhotra, Officiating President of the IOA, said.

"This draconian bill is illegal, unconstitutional and against the IOC charter. Some state associations and federations have given an undertaking to accept the bill only under pressure. They are being bullied and arm-twisted by the government.

"Sport associations need government support for visa, to send teams outside, conduct camps, sponsorship and many other things and it is only under this pressure that they have agreed to it," he added.

IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh said they are waiting for a written reply from the IOC.

"We have sent the proposed draft to the IOC and we are waiting for a written reply from them. Once we receive that, we will forward that to the government. Hopefully, we will also meet the prime minister and the sport minister regarding this soon," he added.

Malhotra said the IOA welcomes good governance and transparency but rejects the bill as it will give 100 percent control of the game at every level in the hands of the government.

"Sports is a state subject. It is in the state list of the constitution. The bill aims to take away the power of the state government and centralise it in the hands of the Union Government. This attempt is not only dubious but bad in law and a harbinger of damaging the federal structure of our polity," said Malhotra, who is also president of the Archery Association of India.

"Though IOA is an autonomous body recognised by IOC, the provisions in the bill are all contrary to this spirit. Also some provisions have scope for misuse and mischief.

"In other fields like politics, elections of Members of Parliament and legislative assemblies, or in the qualification of chief ministers, chairman of various government commissions and committees, NGOs, registered societies, age and tenure criteria is not implemented. Why only sports should have this rule?" he argued.

Meanwhile, Singh, who is also the secretary-general of the Olympic Council of Asia, said the IOA is keen to host the 2012 South Asian Federation (SAF) Games and would discuss the matter with the government.

"By rotation, India is supposed to host the SAF Games next year and IOA is ready to host the Games. We already have the infrastructure and by spending around 60-70 crore India should be able to host the Games.

"But looking at the Commonwealth Games experience, we will discuss with the government as how to go about it and accordingly take the final decide," Singh said.

Meanwhile, Sports Ministry sources said they remain unperturbed and will go ahead with the bill as per schedule.

"The ministry will go ahead with the bill. It is all about bringing transparency in the system and making people accountable. For good governance in the sports bodies, this bill is important," the source said.

Besides Malhotra, the meeting was also attended by Jagdish Tytler, A K Mattoo and K P Singh Deo among others.

The sports ministry had proposed the sports bill in the last week of February to fix age and tenure for sports federations officials.