On the occasion of its 144th session in Greece, the IOC presented the Olympic Order to several personalities from the sports movement. Among them, former TMOK chairman Uğur Erdener, the Spanish Marisol Casado, former president of World Triathlon, Zaiqing Yu, former vice-president of the IOC, and the former president of the FIVB, Ary da Silva Graça. Two pillars of the anti-doping community were also honored: Richard W. Pound, founding president of WADA, and Dr. Valérie Fourneyron, President of the International Control Agency (ITA). This recognition comes as the percentage of athletes tested has reached a historic level at the Paris 2024 Games: more than 6.100 samples were taken on competitors representing 200 NOCs and the Refugee Olympic Team.
“With Valérie Fourneyron, we pay tribute to a remarkable leader whose entire career has been guided by her commitment to sport, public health and good governance », greeted Thomas Bach. The Frenchwoman returned the favor to the IOC president: “From the very beginning, Mr. President, you have been at our side with unwavering support. It takes courage to delegate, but your decision to entrust anti-doping operations to an independent body shaped the future of sport. Your legacy in this regard will endure.” Last year, the Olympic Order was awarded to around ten French personalitiesincluding Tony Estanguet, Emmanuel Macron, Anne Hidalgo, Valérie Pécresse and Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, following the success of the Paris 2024 Games.
