International Ice Hockey Federation

Wickenheiser elected

Wickenheiser elected

Canadian joins IOC Athletes’ Commission

Published 20.02.2014 15:29 GMT+4 | Author Martin Merk
Wickenheiser elected
Canadian forward Hayley Wickenheiser got good news some hours before the gold medal game against the U.S. She has been elected to the IOC Athletes' Commission. Photo: Jeff Vinnick / HHOF-IIHF Images
Hayley Wickenheiser scored on gold-medal game day even before the puck drop as she was elected to the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission.

Two new members were elected by the athletes at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games for a term of approximately eight years to replace Rebecca Scott and hockey player Saku Koivu, who were elected in Turin 2006.

Of the nine candidates, Norwegian biathlon star Einar Bjorndalen and Canadian hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser got the most votes.

The turnout for the election held in three Olympic Villages was 80.87 per cent of the 2,871 athletes eligible to vote.

Bjorndalen and Wickenheiser will be proposed to the IOC Session for IOC membership this Sunday. Pending formal approval, they will then be officially introduced at the Closing Ceremony of the Sochi Games later that night.

The IOC Athletes’ Commission is currently comprised of 22 members who are past or active Olympians. They are the voice of the athletes within the Olympic Movement and are tasked with defending their interests.

As the link between the athletes and the IOC, the Commission members are involved in many key IOC activities, including the process to evaluate candidate cities seeking to host the Olympic Games, the composition of the sports programme for the Games, and the fight against doping.

The commission is comprised of 12 athletes elected for eight years by the athletes participating in the Olympic Games, and of up to seven athletes appointed by the IOC President, to ensure a balance between regions, gender, and sports. In addition, a representative of the World Olympians Association (WOA) and a representative of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) are ex-officio members.

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The Athletes’ Commission now continues to include two ice hockey players. Former American national player Angela Ruggiero was elected in Vancouver 2010 and is the vice-chairperson of the commission. She is also a member of the IIHF Athletes' Committee.

 

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