El Moutawakel, Craig Reedie elected IOC vice presidents

PanARMENIAN.Net - Former Olympic hurdles champion Nawal El Moutawakel of Morocco and Britain’s Craig Reedie were elected vice presidents of the IOC on Thursday, July 26 while the U.S. was again shut out of the ruling body and the son of former President Juan Antonio Samaranch was elevated to the inner circle, according to the Associated Press.

For the first time, three women will serve on the International Olympic Committee’s policymaking board.

El Moutawakel and Reedie were both elected unopposed to fill two vacancies for vice president, moving up from their regular positions on the 15-member executive board.

El Moutawakel received 81 votes in favor and 10 against, while Reedie was approved with 85 in favor and four against.

El Moutawakel, who four years ago became the first woman from a Muslim nation voted onto the executive board, now becomes the first to reach the vice presidency.

She was the first woman from a predominantly Muslim nation to win an Olympic medal when she took gold in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.