JUDGMENT

RANGANATH MISRA, C.J.I. — The Olympic games are ancient in origin. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica they commenced some 3500 years ago and the name came from its association with the place known as Olympia in Greece. These games were played once in every four years and were abolished in 393 A.D. by the Roman Emperor Theodosius I. In recent times, they were revived in 1896 and have until now been held at the turn of every four years excepting during the First and the Second World Wars. The Olympic games are one of the biggest international events and provide great opportunities to amateur sportsmen in the different classifications.

2. Indian participation in the Olympic games dates back to 1900 when a single representative had joined the Olympics at Paris. Gradually, such participation became more systematic and broad-based. While the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Union Government looks after development of sports within the country, the management of the Olympic participation has been entrusted to a society registered under the Societies Registration Act (21 of 1860) known by the name Indian Olympic Association (for short IOA)

3. The Memorandum of Asso