Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s wife Nita Ambani has been nominated for membership in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and will become the first Indian woman to be on the apex sporting body if she gets elected at the IOC Session scheduled from August 2 to 4. The Switzerland-based IOC is the supreme authority of the Olympic Movement and is responsible for holding of the summer and winter Olympics and Paralympics.

The election will be held at the 129th IOC Session in Rio de Janeiro from August 2 to 4. The independent selection process follows a new procedure for recruitment of IOC members based on the Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations. Once elected, she will continue to be a member until the age of 70. Ms. Ambani is the first Indian woman to be nominated to the IOC.

Sir Dorabji Tata was the first Indian representative in the IOC while Raja Randhir Singh is currently an honorary member of the IOC and he was a member from 2000-2014. The 70 IOC members (excluding those from International Federations, athletes and representations of National Olympic Committee) are volunteers who represent the IOC and Olympic Movement in their country.