The IOC will very soon have two new members. And not least. Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjoerndalen and Canadian hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser were elected by their peers to the athletes' commission during the Sochi Games for an eight-year term. The first had already made history by becoming the most decorated athlete since the creation of the Winter Games, with 13 medals. He added to this tour de force a victory at the polls. The Norwegian came first in the vote, with 1 votes. He is followed by Hayley Wickenheiser, the captain of the Canadian ice hockey team, credited with 087 votes. The two new members will replace Rebecca Scott et Saku Koivu, who were elected to an eight-year term on the Athletes' Commission during the 2006 Games in Turin.
For once, athletes rushed to the polls during the Sochi Games. A new participation record was set at 80,87%. A score that made Thomas Bach smile. “ As one of the founding members of the IOC Athletes' Commission, I very much appreciate this high rate of participation in the vote. This shows the value that athletes place on the opportunity offered to them to take part in the decision-making process and help shape the future of the Olympic Movement,” suggested the IOC President.
Elections took place over the past 21 days in the three Olympic villages located in the coastal and mountain complexes. The number of potential voters stood at 2 athletes. They had the choice between nine candidates from the same number of countries. They had to vote for two athletes from two different sports.
On the morning of February 23, Ole Einar Bjoerndalen and Hayley Wickenheiser will be proposed to the IOC Session for admission as members. Subject to the ratification of their election, they will then be officially presented the same evening, during the closing ceremony of the Games.
