Tri-colour to be hoisted at Sochi Games Village on February 16

NEW DELHI: The suspension on the Indian Olympic Association having been lifted by the world body, the tri-colour will be hoisted at the Winter Olympic Games Village in Sochi, Russia on February 16.

Senior officials of the International Olympic Committee and Sochi Organising Committee for the 2014 Winter Games are expected to take part in the flag-hoisting ceremony for which the Indian contingent has been waiting with excitement.

"The flag hoisting ceremony will be held on February 16 and we all are anticipating the ceremony with excitement," Winter Games Federation of India Secretary Roshan Lal Thakur told PTI from Sochi.

Shiva Kheshavan, Himanshu Thakur and Nadeem Iqbal took part in the opening ceremony on February 7 under the IOC flag as they entered the Games as Independent Olympic Participants.

But now they will be able to walk under the tri-colour at the closing ceremony on February 23 after the IOC lifted the suspension on Indian Olympic Association yesterday following IOA's election on February 9.

Cross Country skier Iqbal and Alpine skier Himanshu will also be able to compete their events as Indian athletes.

Iqbal's 15km Classic run begins on February 14 while Himanshu's Giant Slalom event begins on February 19.

Keshavan has completed his event on February 9 as he finished 37th in men's singles luge competition. He had to compete as Independent Olympic Participant as at that time India was still under suspension.