New Delhi: The Indian government has provided a written undertaking to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that visas will be granted to athletes and sportspersons from all countries “without any prejudice to our principled positions and policies on other political matters”.
In a letter to IOC chief Thomas Bach and Indian Olympic Association president Narinder Batra, sports secretary Radhey Shyam Julaniya said that it was the policy of the government that India “hold international sporting events” and that the government will “permit all qualified athletes belonging to any National Olympic Committee recognised by the IOC 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 country of origin of the athletes,” the letter said.
Julaniya further stated that the “Government of India has always attached high importance to the development of sports in the country and the hosting of international sporting events” and that “such commitment of the Government of India stems from our world view of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or ‘The World is one family’ which, in essence, is also the spirit behind International Olympic Movement.”
He also added, “We look forward to co-operating with the IOC to resolve any matter in the light of our communication on the hosting of international sporting events by India.”
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The IOC had suspended talks with the Indian government and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) regarding hosting events after the government denied visas to Pakistan’s shooters to participate in the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup.
The Indian government’s decision not to grant visas to Pakistani athletes was taken in the wake of the Pulwama attack in February.
Julaniya told the Indian Express that national security was the government’s priority at the time. “It has been the policy of the government to allow participation to all sportspersons and eligible officials for international events. That policy continues,” he said.
Previously, a female boxer from Kosovo was also denied a visa, for the women’s world boxing championship in November last year, because the Indian government didn’t recognise Kosovo as a nation.
After Pakistan urged the ISSF to withdraw the Olympic quota places, the IOC stripped the ISSF World Cup of all the 16 quota places that were at stake for the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020.
India was subsequently staring at prospective international isolation in sports after the IOC recommended that all global federations ‘neither award nor hold’ sports events in India until a written assurance from the government was received guaranteeing that participants from all nations will be allowed entry.
This advisory had the serious potential to impact all the upcoming tournaments and championships along with India’s bid to host the 2022-23 Hockey World Cup, the 2030 Asian Games and the 2032 Olympics.
The government’s softened stance has raised hopes for a bilateral ODI series between India and Pakistan’s women’s’ cricket teams as a part of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Women’s Championships, which will determine the qualifications for the Women’s World Cup in 2021.
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A senior IOA official told the Indian Express that they will reopen talks to host the 2026 Youth Olympics, 2032 Olympics and an IOC Congress with the world body.
In response to Julaniya’s letter, IOA president Batra said: “My sincere thanks to Ajay Singh, President of Boxing Federation of India for all his support” and added that “the Hon’ble Sports Minister and the Secretary, Sports were extremely positive and helpful for an urgent and immediate resolution of the issue.”