Indian Olympic Association
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 recognized 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 a 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 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 organizations. In accordance with the Olympic Charter, the membership for National Sports Federations mostly includes NSFs that govern sports featured in the sports programme of the Summer Olympic Games, Winter Olympic Games, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games.