The Indian Olympic Association is the body responsible for selecting athletes to represent India at the Olympic Games, Asian Games and other international athletic meets and for managing the Indian teams at these events.
Indian Olympic Association: Fact File
- Formed: 1927
- Headquarter: New Delhi
- First President: Sir Dorabji Tata
- Current President: Dr. Narinder Dhruv Batra
- First Secretary General: Dr. A. G. Noehren
- Current Secretary General: Rajeev Mehta
History of Indian Olympic Association
India first participated in the Olympics in 1900 in Paris, represented by Norman Pritchard, an Anglo Indian. Sir Dorabji Tata suggested the need for a Sports body at National level for promoting Olympic Sport in united India. Subsequently, in 1923-24, a provisional All India Olympic Committee was set-up, which organised the All India Olympic Games (that later became the National Games of India) in February 1924.
Eight athletes from these Games were selected to represent India at the 1924 Paris Summer Olympics, accompanied by manager Harry Crowe Buck. Later, in 1927, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) was formed, with Sir Dorabji Tata as its founding President and Dr. A.G. Noehren as Secretary.
IOA: Organisation
The Indian Olympic Association is the governing body for the Olympic Movement and the Commonwealth Games in India. It was formed in 1927 and is registered as a Non-Profit Organisation under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. As member of the IOC and OCA, it is the Indian Olympic Association’s primary mission to develop, promote and protect the Olympic Movement in the country.
The members of IOA include:
- National Sports Federations,
- State Olympic Associations,
- IOC Members
- Other select multi-sport organisations.
The Indian Olympic Association is currently governed by a 28-member Executive Council, headed by President, Dr. Narinder Dhruv Batra. The election for the Executive Council is held once in every 4 years. The working of the Executive Council is also assisted by different Standing Committees of the IOA that are constituted with experts in the subject-field to help in various aspects of governance.
