India Reinstated

Having a change of heart for whatever reason, one might say it took them long enough to make such a simple change, one that never should have happened in the first place and now allow its flag to fly at the Sochi Games after all.

India’s three Olympians were introduced at the opening ceremonies without their nation’s flag because the Indian Olympic Association was suspended in December 2012 for electing what the IOC deemed tainted officials.

The Indian athletes were announced as independent athletes and entered with the Olympic flag flying.

A meeting was held this past Sunday following new elections by the Indian Olympic Association and following this, the IOC’s executive board met and decided to reinstate India to the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games

The immediate impact is threefold:

• Indian athletes will now compete for India and not as independents. That’s effective immediately.

• The Indian flag will be raised in Olympic Village in a special ceremony. The date is yet to be determined.