The International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Thomas Bach, is currently chairing the Executive Board meeting of the IOC at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. The primary agenda for this event includes discussions about host cities for upcoming events, the inclusion or exclusion of sports and federations, and potential changes to the Olympic Charter, with decisions made during these sessions being final.
Over 600 members from the elite of the sporting world are attending this IOC session in Mumbai. This group comprises 99 voting members and 43 honorary members, representing a diverse range of sports.
Among the key topics on the agenda is the recognition of entities from illegally annexed Ukrainian territories by the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and the sports program for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The Executive Board will be reviewing a report from the Olympic Programme Commission, which covers a proposal to add cricket, baseball, softball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash to the Los Angeles 2028 Games. If approved, this addition would mark a symbolic return of cricket to the Olympics for the first time since Paris 1900.
It is worth noting that there have been a total of 140 IOC Sessions held since 1894. This marks the second time the Executive Board meeting has taken place in India, with the previous one held in Delhi in 1983. India secured the hosting rights for the IOC session when a delegation, led by Nita Ambani, presented the country’s case at the 139th IOC session in Beijing in February 2022.
Mumbai, with its deep-rooted connection to Indian sports and the country’s Olympic history, serves as an ideal stage for this significant IOC session.
Earlier, IOC Chief Thomas Bach had meetings with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai, with IOC member Nita Ambani also in attendance.
(Inputs from ANI)