Mario Vazquez Rana, #3, President of Pan American Sports Organization and the Association of National Olympic Committees
Mario Vazquez Rana, heading into his fourth decade as president of both the Pan American Sports Organization and the Association of National Olympic Committees, holds sway over every corner of the world.
Vazquez is single-minded in his efforts to direct as much money as possible to the world’s 205 National Olympic Committees through Olympic Solidarity, the IOC commission he leads. Olympic Solidarity, created to disburse IOC revenues to NOCs, will distribute more than $300 million expected from Vancouver and London.
The Olympic leader’s work to protect the autonomy of NOCs from government interference has become an important item for his agenda.
Of interest in 2011 will be whether Vazquez is successful with his attempt to remain a member of the IOC Executive Board through 2013, a year after his IOC membership ends at age 80. Re-elected as ANOC President for four more years in October, Vazquez also received a mandate from the general assembly requesting that the IOC allow him toserve on the EB as long as he leads ANOC. His current EB term ends in 2012, the year he is supposed to retire from the IOC.
Sheikh Ahmad Al Sabah, #4, President Olympic Council of Asia
As the importance of Asia grows in the Olympic Movement, so does the influence of OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al Sabah.
Venerated among the 44-member NOCs in OCA, Sheikh Ahmad has led the group forward with the expansion of multi-sport games across the continent. He’s interested in innovation, encouraging the formation of Asian Beach Games, Martial Arts Games and Indoor Games.
The Asian Games have become as big as the Olympics, and competition is often intense to win the right to host the event.
Ahmad, 49, is the youngest leader of a continental association and has another 31 years to serve as a Kuwaiti IOC member before facing retirement age. Ahmad is likely to remain a growing influence in the IOC for years to come.
2010 Ranking – 6
Written by Ed Hula.