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WOA Congratulates Angela Ruggiero and Tony Estanguet on their election as Chair and Vice-Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission

3 | 8 | 2016

World Olympians Association (WOA) congratulates Olympic champion and WOA Executive Committee member Angela Ruggiero and Triple Olympic Gold Medallist Tony Estanguet on their election as Chair and Vice-Chair of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Athletes’ Commission. Ruggiero replaces outgoing Chair Claudia Bokel, who has headed up the IOC Athletes’ Commission successfully for the past four years.

The decision was confirmed at a joint meeting between the IOC Athletes’ Commission and the IOC Executive Board in Rio on Monday. Ruggiero, who competed in ice hockey at four successive Winter Olympic Games from Nagano 1998 to Vancouver 2010, has played more games for Team USA than any other man or woman. She has been an IOC Member since 2010 and IOC Athletes’ Commission Vice-Chair since 2014. In April last year she was appointed as an IOC representative to the WOA Executive Committee, where she continues to support her fellow Olympians around the world.

Triple Olympic gold medallist Tony Estanguet was named Vice-Chair of the IOC Athletes Commission at the same meeting, stepping into Ruggiero’s vacant position.  Estanguet, who was the first French Olympian to win three gold medals in the same discipline, became an IOC Member after the London 2012 Olympic Games upon election to the IOC Athletes’ Commission.

WOA President, Joël Bouzou, said:

“On behalf of the WOA, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Angela Ruggiero and Tony Estanguet on their appointments as Chair and Vice-Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission. This is a fantastic achievement and is testament to the respect and admiration both Olympians command from their peers within the Olympic Movement. The WOA welcomes the decision and looks forward to continuing our close relationship with the IOC Athletes’ Commission under their leadership.

“I would also like to acknowledge the incredible work Claudia Bokel carried out on behalf of the world’s athletes during her time as Chair of the Commission. Claudia’s hard work and determination to represent the best interests of Olympians everywhere has ensured athletes remain at the heart of the Olympic Movement and we wish her well for the future.”

Members of the IOC Athletes’ Commission will be present throughout the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, serving as contact points for all athletes participating at the Games and assisting with advice and support on a range of topics from career planning via the IOC’s Athletes Career Programme to introducing them to the Olympic Athletes’ Hub. Many members of the Commission are also expected to visit the Olympians Reunion Centre by EY during the Games.

Image credit: IOC/MINE KASAPOGLU