As part of today’s meeting of the International Olympic Committee’s Athlete Commission in Sochi, U.S. women’s hockey gold medalist Angela Ruggiero (pictured, from the 2010 Olympics) was elected the group’s Vice-Chair.
Ruggiero, who retired from the sport in late 2011, has been a member of the group since 2010. She also serves as a member of the board of directors for the United States Olympic Committee.
Germany’s Claudia Bokel was re-elected to Chair of the Commission. Bokel, a silver medalist in fencing at Athens in 2004, will retain her place on the IOC’s Executive Board.
“I would like to thank my colleagues for their trust in my work, and am looking forward to continuing my mission of bringing athletes’ views to the attention of the right people in the Olympic Movement,” Bokel said in a statement.
“It is great to know that I can count on the continued support and valuable input of my Commission members for this important task.”
The Athletes’ Commission is set to receive new members, as Olympians in Sochi are being encouraged to vote for two candidates from two different sports.
The elected pair will replace the outgoing Rebecca Scott (2002 gold medalist for Canada in cross-country skiing) and Saku Koivu (four-time men’s hockey medalist for Finland); both Scott and Koivu have reached their eight-year term limit.
IOC president Thomas Bach expecting successful Sochi Olympics
