New Delhi, October 2026 : The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has initiated its 2026 electoral process under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, with elections to the Athletes’ Commission scheduled for November 3 and the Executive Council polls set for December 5.
The IOA has appointed former Election Commissioner of Delhi and Chandigarh, Sanjay Kumar Srivastava, as the Electoral Officer/Returning Officer to oversee the elections for the Athletes’ Commission, the roster of Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOMs) and the Executive Council.
Srivastava will supervise all stages of the electoral process, including the preparation of electoral rolls, scrutiny of nominations, conduct of polling, counting of votes, declaration of results and issuance of related notifications.
The first phase of the process began on September 18 with the publication of the application form for inclusion in the SOM roster. Eligible sportspersons have been asked to submit their applications along with the required supporting documents by October 18.
The election schedule for the IOA Athletes’ Commission for the 2026-2030 term has also been announced. Polling, counting and the declaration of results will take place on November 3. Eligible National Sports Federations have been directed to nominate two athlete representatives through their duly constituted Athletes’ Commissions by 2 p.m. on October 11.
The Athletes’ Commission will comprise 10 elected members, with equal representation of five men and five women. The composition is intended to ensure the participation of athletes from Olympic-category sports and those who have achieved success at major competitions.
The elections to the IOA Executive Council will be held on December 5, five days before the current council’s term concludes on December 10.
IOA president P.T. Usha described the electoral exercise as a significant step towards strengthening governance, transparency and accountability within Indian sport.
She said the objective was to develop credible, athlete-centric institutions aligned with the Olympic Charter and the national sports governance framework. Usha added that the appointment of an experienced former election commissioner reflected the association’s commitment to an independent and transparent electoral process.
“The IOA will provide all necessary support while fully respecting the independence of the electoral process,” she said, emphasising that meaningful athlete participation in decision-making remained central to the future of Indian sport.
Usha also linked the importance of strong governance to India’s broader Olympic ambitions, including its interest in hosting the 2036 Olympic Games.
India is among seven interested parties participating in the International Olympic Committee’s Continuous Dialogue process for the 2036 Games. The other parties are Germany, Hungary, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, South Africa and Türkiye.
Ahmedabad has been identified as the proposed host city for India’s Olympic project.
The IOA’s 2026 elections are expected to play an important role in shaping the association’s leadership and governance framework as India continues to pursue its long-term Olympic aspirations.
