Joël Bouzou Re-elected President of the World Olympians Association

22 | 10 | 2015

New WOA Constitution approved and stronger relationship with IOC heralded

Incumbent World Olympians Association (WOA) President Joël Bouzou has been re-elected to his post after standing unopposed, highlighting a strong vote of confidence at the WOA General Assembly on Thursday.

The election in Moscow followed the highly successful inaugural World Olympians Forum, which saw more than 283 Olympians including IOC President Thomas Bach and WOA Patron HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, come together to debate key issues within the Olympic Movement.

Bouzou, a four-time Olympian and bronze medal winner who competed for France in the Modern Pentathlon, was first elected President of the WOA in 2011 for a four-year term. Since then he has overseen the transformation of the WOA, helping to develop a new strategic plan and vision to strengthen engagement with the organisation’s membership and forge a deeper working relationship with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Speaking following his re-election, Joël Bouzou said:

“I am overwhelmed by the support my fellow Olympians have shown me and I look forward to continuing my rewarding work with the WOA for the next four years, supported by the IOC and guided by our vision and mandate to assist Olympians around the world and promote the values of Olympism in the community.

“I am excited about the opportunities ahead and will continue to lead our mission to mobilise Olympians everywhere by implementing new programmes and initiatives that foster wellbeing, social cohesion and community engagement as we steer a determined path towards a healthier, wiser, more harmonious world.”

Additional members of the WOA Executive Committee were also elected at the General Assembly. Alper Kasapoglu (Turkey) was voted in as a new WOA Vice President and El Hadj Amadou Dia Ba (Senegal), a current WOA Vice President, was re-elected to the same position. 

They join existing members of the Executive Committee, Secretary General Anthony Ledgard (Peru) and Treasurer Patrick Singleton (Bermuda) who were both re-elected today unopposed.

Four new Board Members were also elected from a list of 16 candidates:

  • Nadia Cruz (Angola) 
  • Tatiana Lebedeva (Russia) 
  • Freida Nicholls (Barbados) 
  • Malav Shroff (India)

Other highlights from the General Assembly that were discussed and agreed upon by the 78 member National Olympians Associations present include:

  • The passing of the new WOA Constitution and amended Bye-Laws which addressed issues with the previous set of governing regulations. Highlights of the new Constitution include:
    • Making a provision for Continental NOA groupings which could meet to discuss issues of common concern;
    • Ensuring that the WOA mission of Service to Olympians is included and practiced;
    • Improving the composition of the WOA Executive Committee; and
    • Introducing voting rights for the WOA’s Continents that represent each region’s NOA Members
  • The presentation and acceptance of the WOA’s Financial Reports following a second clean and fully compliant audit, validating the WOA’s financial processes going forward;
  • Confirmation of the WOA’s agreed integration with the IOC including a well-received speech to the General Assembly by IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell.