IOC Members, FIFA Exec Ranked in Forbes Women Influentials

(ATR) Two IOC members make the inaugural list of most influential women in world sport presented by Forbes Magazine. FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura is number-one.

"Appointed in 2016, after her predecessor was removed amid an ethics investigation, Samoura, the second-most-powerful person in world soccer, behind FIFA president Gianni Infantino, leads the commercial and operational sides of the organization," says Forbes.

FIFA exec and IOC member Lydia Nsekera of Burundi is ranked second in the survey, the highest ranked IOC member in Forbes surveys of international and U.S. women in sport.

"Lydia Nsekera of Burundi became the first woman elected to the FIFA Executive Committee in 2013— the group has since evolved into the FIFA Council — and since 2009, she has sat on the International Olympic Committee. Through both organizations, she is a leading voice for creating policies that promote and protect gender equality in sport around the world," says the article in the latest issue of Forbes.

Nita Ambani of India is number nine on the Forbes list. An IOC member since 2016, Ambani is owner of the Mumbai Indians cricket team. The businesswoman is one of India’s wealthiest persons.

Number 17 is Beng Choo Low, secretary general of the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The Malaysian sports leader is the only other Olympic federation leader included in the international rankings.

The Forbes list of most influential women in U.S. sport includes no current IOC connections. Angela Ruggiero is ranked 17, named for her business, Sports Innovation Lab. Ruggiero, an Olympic hockey gold medalist, was an IOC member until her term ended in February.

Serena Williams, winner of four gold medals at three Olympics is the only other Olympian on the U.S. list.

Attorney Michele Roberts, executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, is number-one on the Forbes U.S. list.

Other notables from the international ranking include UEFA executive council member Florence Hardouin of France (3), former FIFA ExCo memberAustralian Moya Dodd (7), and Barbara Slater, head of BBC Sport (6).

Reported by Ed Hula.