Bach hails India's CWG show

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach hailed the performances of Indian athletes at the Commonwealth Games and expressed the keenness of the apex body to help the country in development of sport.

Towards this, Bach revealed the formation of quadripartite working group comprising IOC, Olympics Council of Asia (OCA), Indian Olympic Association(IOA) and Sports Ministry to help Indian athletes in their preparation for the 2020 Olympic Games.

“I congratulate IOA and Indian athletes for their grand success at the Commonwealth Games with 66 medals. The athletes have set a great example and sent a strong signal of their potential,” Bach, who is on a two-day visit to India, told the media here on Thursday.

“We hope India will be able to tap on its great potential, and win as many medals on Olympic stage. The IOC today met the executive board of the IOA under Mr. Batra, and also had a meeting with the sports minister. We have decided to form a working group with IOC, Olympic Council of Asia, IOA and the sports ministry to devise a road map where the most hopeful athletes from India will be best prepared for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with international expertise at their disposal.”

“We have offered assistance and co-operation to the IOA to help in the matter of sports science, coaching, sports for all and the role of sports in the society at large.”

With Sports Ministry tightening the screws on the functioning of National Sports Federations (NSF), the issue of autonomy between the IOA and Sports Ministry continues to be a contentious issue. Bach was clear that good governance and autonomy have to go together and offered IOC expertise for a good solution to emerge.

“Autonomy and good governance are two sides of the same coin. It is important to recognise the autonomy of the sports bodies or else there will be no international support and you cannot have fair competition. We are pleased with the firm commitment of Mr. Batra and the IOA to make good governance a priority. The government too has to respect the rights of a sports organisation, in a way that both have to go together,” Bach said.

With India being one of the top three countries in the violation of anti-doping law, Bach admitted the issue came up during the discussion and said: “There has been clear and firm commitment from the minister that fair and clean sports is their top priority and it’s a commitment shared by the IOA too. I am confident that this issue will be addressed in a proper way.”

Adding to it Batra said the IOA would ask the ministry to adopt the ''No Needle" policy in national camps following the suspension of two Indian athletes at the CWG.

India's bids

Batra, meanwhile, announced India would be bidding to host the 2026 Youth Olympics in 2026, the 2030 Asian Games in 2030 and the 2032 Olympics. Bach, however, said: "We have taken note with great appreciation. It would be fantastic for the athletes from India to compete at home and a big boost for sports development in the country. But, the time has not come yet. There is no procedure open for Olympics or Youth Olympics. I am sure India, one day, can organise the Olympic Games’’, he said.

The hosts for the next two Olympics have already been decided with Paris hosting the 2024 Olympics and Los Angeles the 2028 edition.