~(NOEDP) Reactivates National Olympic Academy in Ahmedabad.
New Delhi, Jan 12, The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has taken a major step towards strengthening India’s Olympic movement with the launch of the National Olympic Education and Development
Programme (NOEDP) and the formal reactivation of the National Olympic Academy (NOA).
The decisions were taken during the IOA Executive Council meeting held on 8th January, 2026 and were unanimously endorsed by the IOA General House at its Annual General Meeting on 9th January, 2026, both meetings being held in Ahmedabad.
The initiatives reflect the IOA’s renewed focus on athlete-centric development, Olympic education, and institutional capacity building, aligned with global best practices.
The National Olympic Education and Development Programme (NOEDP) has been conceived as a comprehensive national framework to deliver structured education and development programmes across the Olympic ecosystem. The programme will be implemented in collaboration with National Sports Federations (NSFs) and State Olympic Associations (SOAs), ensuring wide outreach and grassroots-to-elite impact.
Key focus areas of NOEDP include:
• Olympic values education and ethics.
• Holistic athlete development, welfare, and career transition support.
• Capacity building of coaches, officials, administrators, and support personnel.
• Strengthening governance, leadership, and professionalism within sports bodies.
• Long-term athlete development models aligned with international standards.
As a cornerstone of this initiative, the National Olympic Academy (NOA) has been reactivated to function as
the central institution for Olympic education, learning, research, and dialogue in India. Beyond its academic
and institutional role, the NOA will work closely and directly with athletes, supporting their educational needs,
personal development, leadership skills, and understanding of the Olympic movement alongside their sporting careers.
The IOA General House unanimously approved Smt. P. T. Usha, President of the Indian Olympic Association, as the President of the National Olympic Academy, and Gagan Narang, Vice President of the IOA and Olympic medallist, as the Director of the National Olympic Academy.
Under their leadership, the National Olympic Academy will collaborate closely with the International Olympic Academy (IOA), Olympia, to align India’s Olympic education programmes with the Olympic Charter and international best practices. This collaboration will facilitate exchange of knowledge, joint programmes,
research initiatives, and participation in global Olympic education forums.
The Indian Olympic Association stated that the launch of NOEDP and the reactivation of the NOA mark an important milestone in creating a values-driven, athlete-focused, and future-ready Olympic ecosystem in India—one that integrates education, excellence, and ethical governance at every level.
In firm commitment towards our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Home Minister Shri Amit Shah and India’s Vision of Viksit Bharat IOA stands strongly in its commitment to placing athletes at the heart of the Olympic movement while strengthening the institutions that support sport across the country.