(ATR) Czech NOC president Jiri Kejval is the newest member of the International Olympic Committee.
Kejval was elected by the IOC membership by a vote of 73-11, with four abstentions, on Wednesday at the 132nd IOC Session in PyeongChang.
Kejval's election brings IOC membership back to an even 100, though that number will drop during the course of the year through retirements.
The 50-year-old former international rower and entrepreneur has been president of the Czech NOC since 2012, having been re-elected for a second term in October 2016. Kejval was also a vice-president for Finance and Marketing while serving the Czech NOC since 2006.
There has not been an IOC member from the Czech Republic since javelin legend Jan Zelezny served from 2004 to 2012 as a member of the IOC Athletes Commission.
In November, Kejval and the Czech NOC welcoming the Olympic family in Prague, hosting the annual general assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) in Prague.
The Czech NOC leader was initially expected to be one of nine new members elected to the IOC at the previous Session in Lima, Peru in November. However, Kejval was unable to attend at the last minute needing to deal with issues in Czech sport and therefore his election was postponed. The IOC backed the decision.
An anonymous letter from the Czech Republic had been sent to IOC President Thomas Bach, the content in which Kejval rejected. However, the letter scuttled plans for his election to the IOC.
Kejval confirmed that the Czech Olympic Committee had cooperated with authorities in the prosecution of the head of the Czech Football Association, Miroslav Pelta, and other high-ranking officials.
Kejval was nominated for a seat as an individual member which would allow him to serve until age 70, regardless of his status as NOC president.
Also, Serbian IOC member Nenad Lalovic was elected as the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations representative on theExecutive Board, replacing the former AIBA President C.K. Wu.
IOC members Ugur Erdener andPierre-Olivier Beckers-Vieujantboth were voted individual IOC status, a reflection of the IOC's interest in keeping two influential members in the fold. Erdener is the chair of the Medical and Science Committee while Beckers-Vieujant is heading the Paris 2024 Coordination Commission. Without the status change, both would have to give up their IOC seats when their NOC presidential terms come to an end.
Written by Brian Pinelliin PyeongChang
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