New Athletes' Commission Chair; Libyan NOC Chief Released; New IRB CEO

7/22/2012

IOC Athletes' Commission Election

Claudia Bokel is the new chair of the IOC Athletes' Commission, Around the Rings is told.

She was elected Sunday in London by her fellow Commission members, then officially appointed to the two-year term by IOC president Jacques Rogge. Olympian in skeleton Adam Pengilly of Great Britain and four-time Olympic swim champion Alexander Popov of Russia were the other two candidates.

Bokel, 38, now takes over from outgoing head Frank Fredericks of Namibia, both on the Athletes' Commission and in turn on the IOC Executive Board.

"Bokel, a former Olympian fencer, is expected to replace Fredericks on the IOC Executive Board for the duration of her term pending approval by the 124th IOC Session on 26 July 2012," confirms IOC communications chief Mark Adams.

Born in the Netherlands, Bokel also holds a passport from Germany, her home as a three-time Olympian in epee fencing.

She competed at Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004, where she won a silver medal. She also took home gold at the 2001 World Fencing Championships and served as an athlete ambassador for Munich's failed bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

She was previously vice chair of the Athletes' Commission.

Libyan Olympic Chief Released Unharmed

Ahmed Nabil al-Taher al-Alam, president of the Libyan Olympic Committee, was returned home on Sunday, one week after he was kidnapped.

Al-Alam’s brother, Salah, told The Associated Press he was safe and resting in his home in Tripoli. He added it was unclear why gunmen took his brother.

The AP reports that Salah believes his brother’s kidnappers were a “criminal gang” and that he was only interrogated for 15 minutes during his captivity.

New IRB CEO

Brett Gosper is the new Chief Executive Officer of the International Rugby Board.

A former rugby player, Gosper played for French squad Racing Club and the Australian under-21 side.

Gosper said he joins the IRB at an “exciting time.”

"We look forward to the biggest-ever Rugby World Cup in 2015 and the sport returning to the Olympic Games at Rio 2016 with participation at an all-time high and a strong global commercial profile," he said.

Gosper, 53, is the eldest son of Australian IOC member Kevan Gosper.

Written by Ed Hula III.

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