(ATR) Five new athlete members of the IOC took the oath at conclusion of the IOC session in Rio de Janeiro.
The group includes four members elected by athletes at the Games: German Britta Heidemann (fencing), Korean Seug-min Ryu (table tennis) Russian Yelena Isinbayeva (athletics) and Hungarian Daniel Gyurta (swimming). A fifth, Sarah Walker, a cyclist from New Zealand, was nominated by the IOC President to balance out the slate of elected athletes.No athletes from Oceania were chosen in the athletes’ vote, so Bach selected Walker who finished fifth in balloting.
The most controversial nominee would be Isinbayeva. The Russian pole vaulter received 23 no votes and 43 yes to be elected. The no votes were the largest of any of the candidates.
These five new IOC members join eight others elected three weeks ago before the Rio Games. Seven of them are women, six of them are men. IT is the largest class of new IOC members in years.
The two hour long IOC session at the Windsor Marapendi Hotel was largely ceremonial with awards and Olympic orders presented to retiring IOC members.
Near the end of the session IOC president Bach briefly mentioned the case of Patrick Hickey and told members his next court appearance would be on Tuesday. He did not explain any of the details surrounding Hickey, who was arrested on ticket touting charges. Bach told the members that Hickey enjoys the presumption of innocence. Hickey is currently being held in a prison outside of Rio de Janeiro.
Members received an update on the next IOC session in September 2017. In Lima, Peru the IOC will elect will elect a host for the 2024 Olympics. Representatives from all four cities Budapest, Los Angeles, Paris, and Rome all attended today’s IOC session.
Written by Ed Hula in Rio de Janeiro
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