IOA special GBM to set poll process rolling today

 New Delhi, Oct 17 (PTI) Indian Olympic Association will set the ball rolling for its election next month with the apex sports body expected to announce the details of the poll process in its Special General Body Meeting here tomorrow.

     The IOA, which is set for a change of guard at the top after 16 years, is expected to announce the nitty-gritty of the poll process like the date of nomination, scrutiny and withdrawal of candidates as well as appointment of returning officer for the November 25 elections.

     The special GBM will also take a decision on which new federations would be given affiliation to the IOA to ensure voting right majority of National Sports Federations whose disciplines are included in Olympic Games in the electoral college, as directed by its international parent body.

     In its Executive Committee meeting on September 24, the IOA had called the special GBM to discuss on the affiliation of federations after the IOC directed that the NSFs whose disciplines are included in Olympic Games should have voting right majority in the electoral college.

     The Executive Committee had also authorised the IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra to appoint a panel to discuss the issue of affiliation of federations.

     Under the IOA Constitution, the federations under Olympic Games, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games were given affiliation but the IOC’s new rules state that all those federations whose sports are in Olympic programme should have the voting majority in the electoral college.

     Malhotra had said that some federations have applied for affiliations and the special GBM will take a decision on the issue. (PTI)