Abhinav Bindra awarded Olympic Order by IOC for outstanding services to Olympic Movement

By: Aditya Ahuja

Abhinav Bindra, the first Indian to win an individual gold at the Olympics, has been honoured with the Olympic Order for his outstanding contributions to the Olympic movement. The Olympic Order is the highest accolade bestowed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for exceptional service.

Bindra, a member of the IOC Athletes Commission, is the first Indian to receive this prestigious award, garnering praise from numerous prominent figures for his achievement.

“It is with great pleasure that I inform you that the IOC Executive Board has today decided to award you the Olympic Order for your outstanding services to the Olympic movement,” IOC President Thomas Bach informed Bindra in a letter on Monday.

Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, took to the social media platform X to congratulate Bindra. “Congratulations to @Abhinav_Bindra on being awarded the Olympic Order for outstanding contributions to the Olympic Movement! His achievement fills us with pride and is truly well-deserved. His name alone has inspired generations of shooters and Olympians,” Dr. Mandaviya, who is also the Minister of Labour and Employment, wrote in a post.

What is the Olympic Order Award?

The Olympic Order is the highest award presented by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Established in 1975, it is awarded to individuals who have rendered distinguished service to the Olympic Movement. This honor can be bestowed upon IOC members, athletes, and other individuals who have made significant contributions to the development and promotion of the Olympic Games and its ideals.

The award comes in three grades: gold, silver, and bronze, with the gold medal being the most prestigious. The recipients of the Olympic Order are chosen by the IOC’s Executive Board. The award symbolizes the recipient’s dedication to the Olympic spirit and their contributions to promoting the values of excellence, friendship, and respect in sports.

Abhinav Bindra’s Achievements

Abhinav Bindra holds the distinction of being India’s first individual gold medalist at the Olympics, securing the gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the men’s 10-meter air rifle event.

In addition to his Olympic gold, Bindra boasts an illustrious collection of medals. He won the gold medal at the 2006 World Championships in the 10m air rifle event, and gold medals in the Commonwealth Games in 2002, 2006, and 2010 in pairs events. He also clinched the individual gold in the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Bindra has also won silver and bronze medals at the Asian Games. He was part of the team that bagged silver in the 10m air rifle event at the 2010 Asian Games and part of the bronze medal-winning team at the 2014 Asian Games. Additionally, Bindra won an individual bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games.