The IOC has unveiled the list of nine candidates for the Athletes' Commission, for the two places at stake at the Sochi Olympics in February 2014. Two big names in winter sports dominate the troop of contenders: the former Swiss skier Didier Cuche and the Norwegian Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, living biathlon legend. The Canadian Hayley Wickenheiser, holder of three Olympic titles in ice hockey, and the former Italian cross-country skier Pietro Piller-Cottrer, crowned in the relay in 2006, are also vying for one of the two places at the IOC. The other five candidates are alpine skiers Kilian Albrecht (Bulgaria), Tanja Poutianien (Finland), Ana Jelusic (Croatia), Sarka Zahrobska (Czech Republic), and Belarusian biathlete Darya Domracheva. The two elected athletes, who must come from two different disciplines, will then become full members of the IOC for a mandate of eight years. They will replace former Canadian cross-country ski champion Beckie Scott and Finnish hockey player Saku Koivu, who were elected in 2006.
— Published on August 16, 2013
