India's joint meeting with IOC postponed

The much-anticipated joint meeting between representatives of the suspended Indian Olympic Association, the Sports Ministry and the International Olympic Committee, to find a way in resolving the issues that led to India's ban from the Olympics, has been postponed from May 7 to May 15.

Sports Secretary P K Deb informed that the meeting, scheduled to be held at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland has been postponed as IOC president Jacques Rogge is busy on May 7.

"The IOC has expressed their desire to meet Sports Minister Jitendra Singh. But the postponement happened only because IOC president Jacques Rogge is not available on May 7," Deb said.

The IOC had originally wanted the meeting to be held in March, but had extended the dates to April.

In its earlier letter, the IOC had categorically mentioned, "the main purpose of this meeting will be to agree on an action plan and a road map, with clear deadlines, to sort out all pending issues and to allow for free, fair, democratic and transparent elections within the IOA on the basis of a revised IOA Constitution and the Olympic Charter, without any outside interference".

Earlier in the day, Sports Minister Jitendra Singh said that the stand-off between the government and the IOA over the contentious Sports Code is nearing resolution.

Talking to reporters after meeting the IOC member in India, Randhir Singh, the sports minister said he is confident of the country returning to the Olympic movement soon.