No Oly bid now, says Bach

General: MoU to be signed between IOC, Govt and IOA to improve sport

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach on Monday scotched speculations pertaining to India’s bid for the 2024 Olympics, saying it was too early for the country to hold such an event.

Bach was on a one-day visit to India and went through a series of meetings with top officials of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Sports Ministry, attended a lunch hosted by Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal before heading to the Prime Minister’s official residence to meet Narendra Modi.

Bach revealed the IOC were “surprised” by the news of India’s Olympic bid but were relieved to know that Modi shared their views on the matter.

"We were aware of this speculation and quite frankly, we were a little bit surprised because, for different reasons, we think it maybe a little bit too quick now for India to have a successful Olympic Games in 2024,” Bach told reporters on his first since visit since his election as IOC chief in 2013.

"We were very happy to see the Prime Minister is sharing the opinion. He is seriously looking into an Olympic candidature but wants to have this well-prepared. He also considers that building such a successful candidature from now to September 15 maybe little bit difficult. So we will stay in contact for the future but for 2024, we share the same opinion."

Bach described his meeting with Modi “excellent” and spoke about the signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding between IOA, IOC and the Indian government for the development of sport in India.

“We decided and agreed to sign today a memorandum of understanding, between the Government of India, the IOA and the IOC where the IOC in the framework of its international assistance programme, is committing itself to support sport in India through the IOA and in cooperation with the government. Having this tripartite agreement is also a message in itself because it shows on one hand, the now hopefully growing cooperation and partnership between the government of India and the IOA,” he said.

Bach believed India to be a “sleeping giant” with the potential to become a sporting powerhourse. The IOC chief said he had a very good discussion with various National Sports Federations but felt the IOA, back in the Olympic fold after a 14-month suspension, is yet to “find its feet.”

“The tone was to focus on the athletes and the results for athletes in great international events, to look for the best training facilities, for the best coaches, for the best possible preparations also for qualification and finally participation in Olympic Games because this is what the National Olympic Committee is about. It is about the athletes at the Olympic Games because the athletes are at the heart of Olympic movement,” he said.

"This discussion just one year after the suspension could be lifted gave me the impression that the IOA still has to find its feet, that they need to discuss and to find their way how to make future success possible and how to best support the athletes.”

On the ongoing tussle between the IOA and the government over the Sports Code, Bach said:"I am happy that the Prime Minister said he respects autonomy and would be happy in having autonomous partners not only in sports but also in society at large."

"We considered good governance and autonomy as two sides of the same coin. There was an agreement between the government and the IOA last year and I hope there is mutual respect between NOCs and the government.”

Bach’s attention was also drawn to the infighting among the IOA factions. He, however, said: “I am aware of that. They have a new constitution now and they should work for the betterment of the athletes.”