Highlights

IOC has lifted all the restrictions on India pertaining to hosting international sports events.



IOC EB was pleased by India's letter on Tuesday that stressed upon non-discrimination towards athletes.



IOA president Narinder Batra thanked Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and also assured of a cooperative and constructive association in the future.



The speculation over whether India would host international sporting events or not was officially ended after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Thursday that it had lifted any restrictions in place over of the future hosting rights of the country.

The IOC EB decided to “lift, with immediate effect, all provisional measures and restrictions imposed under points 2 and 3 of the IOC EB decisions of 21 February 2019 in relation to awarding and hosting any international sports events in India; and inform the International Sports Federations accordingly,” James Macleod, IOC’s Director of Olympic Solidarity and NOC Relations, informed in a letter to the Indian Olympic Association.

The important announcement comes two day after Indian Sports Ministry announced that political or any other issues would not be a hindrance in allowance of foreign athletes into the country.

The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) lifted all provisional measures and restrictions imposed on India in relation to awarding and hosting any international sports events in the country. — Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) June 21, 2019

Acknowledging the same, the letter also added that the IOC Executive Board was pleased with the Indian government’s letter on Tuesday which stressed upon ensuring that the principle of non-discrimination of athletes as well as the teams participating in any future international sports events in India will be duly respected.

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IOA president Narinder Batra thanked Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and also assured of a cooperative and constructive association in the future.

“On behalf of IOA, all NSFs, athletes, sports loving community of India and myself, we are extremely thankful and grateful for your support and patience in arriving at the resolution on giving clearance to India to host international events,” he added in a communique to IOC president Thomas Bach.

The ministry had clarified its stand in a letter to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Tuesday: “It is the policy of the Government that India will hold international sporting events and will permit all qualified athletes belonging to any NOC recognised by IOC, or any national federation affiliated to the International Federations concerned, to participate.

“Such participation of athletes shall be without prejudice to our principled positions and policies on other political matters, including issues such as international recognition or otherwise of the country of origin of the athletes,” the letter had stated.