Paris Olympics 2024: Weeks after being Appointed, Mary Kom Resigns as India’s Chef-De-Mission
In a letter to the authorities, Mary Kom said she was resigning due to ‘personal reasons’
Just a few weeks after MC Mary Kom was announced as India’s chef-de-mission for the Paris Olympics 2024, the celebrated Indian boxer withdrew herself from the position.
Mary Kom stepped down as India’s chef-de-mission due to personal reasons. She was appointed on March 21 and was incharge of the logistics and other important affairs at the Paris Olympics. The quadrennial Games commence on July 26 and will go on till August 11.
In a letter to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president, PT Usha, the sports ministry and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Mary Kom said she was ‘left with no other choice.’
The six-time world champion said that although it was an honour to serve the country in every way possible, she wouldn’t be able to continue with the responsibility. “I consider it an honour to serve my country in every way possible, and I was mentally prepared for it. However, I regret that I will not be able to uphold the prestigious responsibility and would like to resign, owing to personal reasons,” she wrote in the letter.
She added that it is embarrassing for her to withdraw from such a respected commitment but was left with no other choice. “It is embarrassing to retreat from a commitment, which I seldom do, but I am left with no choice. I am there to cheer on my country and the athletes competing in this Olympic Games with great expectations,” Mary Kom added.
Usha, in a statement released to the media said, although the IOA is sad that Mary Kom will not be a part of the Indian official contingent, the federation respects her decision and will soon announce a replacement - “We are sad that Olympic medal winning boxer and Chairperson of the IOA Athletes Commission Mary Kom has stepped down, citing personal reasons. We respect her decision and her privacy. I shall make the appropriate consultations and soon make an announcement about the replacement for Mary Kom. I have also conveyed to her that she will always have my own support and that of the IOA. I also request everyone to respect the legendary boxer’s privacy.”
The new chef-de-mission will be announced shortly. Shiva Kesavan, India’s luge athlete, is India’s deputy chef-de-mission for the Paris Olympics.