Sports Minister Jitendra Singh today asked the IOC to "assist" in bringing India back into the Olympic fold and said that the country is at "crossroads" as far as sports administration was concerned.
"We are at the crossroads of change in the way India Sports is administered in India. We come to you with a common understanding. We hope the IOC will also assist us in bringing about the changes and when we do, allow Indian sportspersons to compete under the Indian Flag," Jitendra said during his speech at the International Olympic Committee Headquarters in Lausanne.
Jitendra re-iterated that the Government of India respects the autonomy of the Indian Olympic Association and National Sports Federations.
"The Government of India respects the autonomy of the IOA and the NSF. There has been no case where the Government has intervened in the day to day functioning of the NSF. Even when there is a dispute within the NSF, the Govt. Of India prefers to respect the views of the International Federation rather than impose its will," he told the IOC members.
The minister also sought to explain the Sports Code.
"It is a set of guidelines that the Government has come out with and expects the IOA and the NSF to voluntarily adopt. A federation does not have to follow the Sports Code by the letter. In many cases, where the situation demands, the Government has relaxed the provisions of the Code."
Citing examples, Jitendra said the "Soccer, Tennis, Yachting, Golf federations had come to us, discussed the issues and solutions have been found".
Jitendra emphasised on the role of judiciary in the functioning of the NSFs.
"Over the years the judiciary has repeatedly expressed its dismay at the state of affairs in many National Sports Federations. Because of the absence of any clear guiding principles of governance among the NSF, the judiciary has repeatedly taken recourse to the Sports Code and has insisted on the NSF adhering to its principles. Such directions are binding on the concerned NSF," he explained.
