IOC Elects China’s Yu as Vice President, Erdener & Høyer Also Appointed Roles

China’s Zaiqing Yu has been re-appointed the vice president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 

The Chinese sports administrator, who was an IOC Vice President from 2008-2012, was the only candidate running for the role.

The IOC also elected on Friday Turkey’s Ugur Erdener, a member of Istanbul’s failed 2020 Games bid, voted onto the powerful Executive Board.

Erdener, president of World Archery, beat senior IOC member Richard Pound of Canada by nine votes to win a spot on the executive board, which essentially shapes most of the IOC’s policies.

“I congratulate Professor Erdener and I am adding to my impressive collection of silver medals in recent IOC elections,” said Canadian Pound, a former head of the World Anti-Doping Agency who unsuccessfully ran for IOC president in 2001.

Badminton World Federation President Poul-Erik Høyer also became the newest member of the IOC. 

“It is a great honour to have been elected to the IOC today and I would humbly like to thank my new colleagues in the IOC for the confidence they have shown in me. I pledge to serve to the best of my ability and to always do my best for the development of sport and to promote the Olympic ideals,” said Høyer.

The 48-year-old Dane was the sole nominee for membership at the 126th Session of the IOC, being held on the eve of the Sochi Winter Olympics which officially starts later today.

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