Abhinav Bindra Awarded With The Prestigious Olympic Order By IOC

The first Indian to win an individual medal at the Olympics, Abhinav Bindra, continues to bring glory for his work. The International Olympic Committee conferred Bindra with the prestigious “Olympic Order” on Saturday. The IOC rewarded Bindra with the eminent award for his unmatched contributions to the Olympic movement. The IOC awards the Olympic Order in three categories - Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Bindra has now become the first Indian to win the esteemed award in the gold category. Abhinav Bindra, in the 2008 Summer Olympics, won the gold medal in 10m Air Rifle Shooting. The shooter consequently became the first athlete to bring an Olympic gold medal to India. The former champion will receive the award during the 142nd IOC Session in Paris on August 10, a day prior to the closing of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

IOC Rewards Abhinav Bindra With The Highest Honor Of Olympic Order

The Olympic Order in the gold category is the highest award given by the Committee to recognize services to the Olympic movement. Abhinav Bindra, a member of the IOC Athletes Commission, won the Board’s decision to receive the Order on Saturday. While the shooting athlete will be officially conferred the order on August 10th before the closing of Paris Olympics, the governing body informed him of their decision via their social media. Moreover, the IOC President, Thomas Bach, informed Bindra about the Order with an official letter on Monday.

"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," the IOC President informed Bindra in the letter. “May I take this opportunity to address you with my most sincere congratulations on this award. Looking forward to seeing you in Paris," the letter read further.

The “Olympic Order” is awarded to individuals who have exemplified the Olympic ideal through their actions and achieved significant accomplishments in the sporting world providing the ultimate service to the ideal. Abhinav Bindra, by winning the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, highlighted the Olympic Games in the Indian diaspora. Moreover, the 41-year-old former champion has consistently been associated with the Olympics in one capacity or another. Earlier this year, Bindra was selected as one of the torch bearers for the 2024 Paris Olympics.