El Moutawakil elected member of IOC Executive Board

Minister of Youth and Sports, Nawal El Moutawakil, was on Thursday elected as member of the powerful executive board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

    El Moutawakel won her seat unopposed after Puerto Rican Richard Carrion and Britain's Craig Reedie withdrew from running against her to ensure there was one woman on the IOC executive Board. She had 85 votes in favor and 12 against from 97 valid votes.

    "I feel very honored to be a member of this big family," El Moutawakel told the session after her election, promising to do her best "to protect the Olympic ideals."

    The 46-year-old made history at the 1984 Olympics when she became the first Muslim woman to medal, a gold in the 400 metres hurdles. She joined the IOC in 1998, and has been a member of various commissions.

    The 15-member executive board is responsible for setting the Olympic agenda. It meets four times a year and can ban athletes from Games for doping offences.

    Members of the International Olympic Committee executive board after Thursday’s elections (x-new posts):

President: Jacques Rogge (Belgium)

Vice Presidents: Lambis Nikolaou (Greece) Chiharu Igaya (Japan) Thomas Bach (Germany) x-Yu Zaiqing (China)

Regular Members: Denis Oswald (Switzerland) Mario Vazquez Rana (Mexico) x-Rene Fasel (Switzerland) x-Nawal El Moutawakel (Morocco) Richard Carrion (Puerto Rico) Ser Miang (Singapore) Mario Pescante (Italy) Sam Ramsamy (South Africa) Gerhard Heiberg (Norway) x-Frank Fredericks (Namibia).

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