IOA polls on Dec 5; former election commissioner appointed as returning officer

NEW DELHI: The countdown to a crucial electoral transition in Indian Olympic sport has begun, with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) scheduling its Executive Council elections for December 5 and appointing former Election Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Srivastava as the returning officer to oversee the process.

The elections come just five days before the present Executive Council’s term ends on December 10, setting the stage for a significant transition in the country’s Olympic administration.

The electoral exercise, which also includes elections to the IOA Athletes’ Commission and the preparation of the Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) roster, will be conducted under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, the 2026 rules, the amended IOA Constitution and the applicable election bye-laws.

Srivastava, a retired IAS officer who has served as Election Commissioner of Delhi and Chandigarh, will supervise the entire electoral process, including electoral rolls, nominations, scrutiny, polling, counting and the declaration of results.

His appointment places the conduct of the elections in the hands of an officer with experience in election administration, with the IOA committing to support the exercise while respecting its independence.

The electoral process is already gathering pace, with the first stage of the SOM exercise having commenced on September 18. Eligible sportspersons have been invited to apply for inclusion in the roster, with October 18 set as the deadline for submitting applications and supporting documents.

The roster will be prepared in accordance with the eligibility and tier criteria prescribed under the national sports governance framework.

Athletes' Commission polls next month

The spotlight will first turn to the IOA Athletes’ Commission, with polling, counting and the declaration of results scheduled for November 3 for the 2026–2030 term.

National Sports Federations (NSFs) are required to nominate two athlete representatives through their duly constituted Athletes’ Commissions, with nominations closing at 2 pm on October 11.

The proposed commission will have 10 elected members — five men and five women — with provisions for representation of athletes from Olympic-category sports and those who have achieved success at major competitions.

The exercise is aimed at determining the athlete representation that will form a key part of the IOA’s governance structure.

IOA president PT Usha said the 2026 elections marked an important milestone in strengthening governance, transparency and accountability within the Indian Olympic Movement.

“Our objective is to build strong, credible and athlete-centric institutions, fully aligned with the Olympic Charter and the national sports governance framework,” Usha said.

She added that the appointment of an experienced former Election Commissioner underscored the IOA’s commitment to an independent, transparent and credible electoral process, while reiterating that athletes must have a meaningful role in the governance of Indian sport.

Governance in focus as India pursues 2036 Olympic bid

The electoral exercise also comes at a consequential juncture for India’s Olympic ambitions.

India is among seven interested parties in the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Continuous Dialogue process concerning the 2036 Olympic Games, with Ahmedabad identified as the proposed host city for India’s project.

Germany, Hungary, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, South Africa and Türkiye are the other interested parties in the dialogue.

Against this backdrop, governance, institutional credibility and athlete participation are likely to remain important themes as the IOA navigates the election cycle and India continues to pursue its Olympic hosting ambitions.

The IOA has said that election-related notifications, forms, electoral rolls and other information will be made available through its official website and designated election communication channels.