What makes Nita Ambani a fitting candidate for International Olympic Committee

Even as the controversy over top two wrestlers and brand ambassadors refuses to die down, Nita Ambani looks all set to hog limelight in the Olympic Games in Rio this August.

Founder-chairperson of Reliance Foundation, which has sports as a thrust area of its activities, has been nominated as an individual candidate to be elected as a member of International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The election for the coveted membership is scheduled at the 129th IOC Session at Rio de Janeiro before the Games open on August 5.  Nita Ambani will be the third Indian after Sir Dorabji Tata and Randhir Singh to get this unique honour.

Contrary to a misconceived notion, it is not must for an IOC member to be an active or former sportsperson. For instance late Juan Antonia Samaranch is considered one of the best IOC presidents so far. He remained in post from 2001 to 2010.

Samaranch was a career diplomat and during his term made the Olympic Games financially healthy. Big-ticket TV deals, sponsorship for the Games, etc, were his brainchild.

What makes Nita Ambani a fitting candidate for her installation as an IOC member is her commitment to sports. She spearheads all of Reliance Industries initiatives in sports, notably cricket, football, basketball, kabaddi, tennis and golf, either through the company, the foundation or its joint ventures. 

There is a major focus on sport in Dhirubhai Ambani International School as well as in the 13 other institutions that Reliance Foundation runs under her care. Grassroots programmes that have been spearheaded by Reliance Foundation have reached out to over three million children.

The members are nominated by the IOC's selection committee based on the work done by these nominees in the area of sports with no involvement of governments of respective countries in finalising the nomination.

Olympic Agenda 2020 is the strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement. The 40 recommendations are like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that, when you put together, form a picture that shows the IOC safeguarding the uniqueness of the Olympic Games and strengthening sports in society.

Colombia's Luis Moreno, president of the International Development Bank and South African of Indian descent, Ananat Singh, a film producer, is also among the nominees for IOC membership.

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah of Kuwait is the president of the Olympic Council of Asia. He is an IOC member since 1992 and currently also the president of Association of National Olympic Committees. He has never been a sportsperson. But he has a strong voice in IOC.

Also read: By selecting Sallu as Olympics ambassador, India has let down its sports heroes

I have attended two IOC sessions with the delegations of Indian Olympic Association. I know how IOC works and what they look for in its members.

According to IOC President Thomas Bach, "These eight candidates that we are proposing to the next IOC Session are a strong and varied group of individuals that are experts in their respective fields and will make great contributions. They have been vetted by new criteria in keeping with the recommendations of Olympic Agenda 2020. These candidates will add extra strength and diversity to our already universal orchestra of IOC members".

Olympic Agenda 2020 has laid emphasis on professional leagues in different sport. IOC is very keen to interact with existing leagues to attract TV revenue.

Nita Ambani's role as a Mumbai Indian team owner in India's cricket IPL will be a big asset for IOC. Moreover, IOC is looking for including cricket in its fold and her experience would be of great help to the Olympic Movement. The way she has lifted Football - which is the world's largest individual sport, but has been languishing in India - through ISL is a qualification enough to be part of IOC.

IOC is also all set to launch an Olympic Channel to provide a platform for sports and athletes beyond the Olympic Games period, 365 days a being. Nita Ambani's experience as a media house owner will benefit IOC a great deal. In turn her being part of the Olympic Movement will help Indian sport a great deal.

Besides being an Olympic gold medallist in fencing, IOC president Thomas Bach is a top German lawyer. He has visited India twice and knows India and its sport organisation very well. He will sure have a crucial role in in mind for Nita Ambani as an IOC member.

Her installation will not only enhance India's image on global sporting map but will also add valuable contribution to IOC Movement.