The Indian Olympic Association is the governing body for the Olympic Movement and the Commonwealth Games in India. As an affiliated member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), the IOA administers various aspects of sports governance and athletes’ welfare in the country. In this regard, the IOA oversees the representation of athletes or teams participating in the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and other international multi-sport competitions of IOC, CGF, OCA and ANOC. The Indian Olympic Association is recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
The IOA was established in the year 1927 with Sir Dorabji Tata and Dr. A.G. Noehren as the Founding President and Secretary General respectively. It 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. Beyond the participation in the Games, the IOA has also established various initiatives with different stakeholders for the development of sports education and Olympic studies.
The members of IOA include National Sports Federations, State Olympic Associations, IOC Members and other select multi-sport organisations. In accordance with the Olympic Charter, the membership for National Sports Federations mostly include NSFs that govern sports featured in the sports programme of the Summer Olympic Games, Winter Olympic Games, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
The Indian Olympic Association is currently governed by a 32-member Executive Council, headed by President, Dr. Narinder Dhruv Batra. The election for the Executive Council is held once in every 4 years. The last election of the IOA was held on 14th December 2017.
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. Together with the Executive Council Members, Standing Committees and the Office, the IOA administers Olympic movement in India.
Names of the Presidents and Secretaries General who have governed the Indian Olympic Association since its inception:
PRESIDENT
1927-28 SIR DORABJI TATA
1928-38 MAHARAJA BHUPINDRA SINGH
1938-60 MAHARAJA YADVENDRA SINGH
1960-75 RAJA BHALENDRA SINGH
1975-80 AIR CHIEF MARSHAL OP. MEHRA
1980-84 RAJA BHALENDRA SINGH
1984-87 MR. VIDYA CHARAN SHUKLA
1987-96 DR. B. SIVANTHI ADITYAN
1996-2011 MR. SURESH KALMADI, M.P
2011-12 PROF. VIJAY KUMAR MALHOTRA*
2012-14 MR. ABHAY SINGH CHAUTALA, MLA
2014-17 MR. N. RAMACHANDRAN
*Acting President
SECRETARY GENERAL
1927-28 DR. A.G. NOEHREN
1928-52 PROF. GURU DUTT SONDHI
1952-56 PROF. MOIN-UL HAQ
1956-60 MR. ASHWINI KUMAR
1960-70 MR. PANKAJ GUPTA
1970-74 MR. ASHWINI KUMAR
1974-75 MR. J.C. PALIWAL
1976-86 AVM C.L. MEHTA
1986-87 DR. R.L. ANAND
1987-2012 RAJA RANDHIR SINGH
2012-14 DR. LALIT K. BHANOT
2014- MR. RAJEEV MEHTA
IOC MEMBERS
1927-32 SIR DORABJI TATA
1947-92 RAJA BHALENDRA SINGH
2001-14 RAJA RANDHIR SINGH (2014 – present IOC Honorary Member)
2016- MRS. NITA AMBANI
IOA LIFE PRESIDENTS
2014 MR. V.K. MALHOTRA
2017 RAJA RANDHIR SINGH