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Two new IOC Vice-Presidents were elected to the Executive Board (EB) at the 129th IOC Session ahead of the Olympic Games Rio 2016.Juan Antonio Samaranch (ESP) and Uğur Erdener (TUR) will replace outgoing Vice-Presidents Nawal El Moutawakel (MAR) and Sir Craig Reedie (GBR). Seven new and returning members will also be joining the EB. The newly composed EB began its work after the conclusion of the Olympic Games Rio 2016.Eight new IOC Members were also elected at the Session: Nita Ambani (IND), Sari Essayah (FIN), Ivo Ferriani (ITA), Luis Moreno (COL), Auvita Rapilla (PNG), Anant Singh (RSA), Tricia Smith (CAN), and Karl Stoss (AUT).Angela Ruggiero, an Olympic ice hockey champion with the USA, has been elected as the new Chair of the IOC’s Athletes’ Commission, replacing outgoing Chair Claudia Bokel of Germany. IOC President Thomas Bach officially appointed Ruggiero during a joint meeting between the IOC Athletes’ Commission and the IOC Executive Board (EB) on 1 August, following a vote by the Commission members.“Congratulations to Angela Ruggiero on her successful election,” said President Bach. “I am sure that, with her determination and her great experience, she will make a huge contribution. The EB will be very happy to engage with her and all the members of the Athletes’ Commission for the sake of all the athletes.”After the meeting, Ruggiero said: “I am grateful for the trust my fellow IOC Athletes’ Commission members have put in me and my work. It is an important time within the Olympic Movement and our Commission has a great responsibility. I will make sure our voices aren’t just heard, but that they are effective and that we empower athletes around the world to do the same.”France’s three-time Olympic canoe slalom gold medallist, Tony Estanguet, was in turn elected as Vice-Chair.CHANGES TO EXECUTIVE BOARD FOLLOWING 129TH IOC SESSIONRUGGIERO TO HEAD IOC ATHLETES’ COMMISSIONAbove Angela Ruggiero has played more ice hockey matches for the USA than any other man or womanAbove IOC and EB members after the 129th IOC SessionFIVE ATHLETES ELECTED AS NEW IOC MEMBERSThe 129th IOC Session concluded its meeting in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) on 21 August by electing five athletes as IOC Members.Earlier in August, athletes competing in the Olympic Games Rio 2016 elected four athletes as members of the IOC Athletes’ Commission for a term of eight years: Britta Heidemann from Germany (fencing), Seung-min Ryu from the Republic of Korea (table tennis), Dániel Gyurta from Hungary (swimming) and Yelena Isinbayeva from the Russian Federation (athletics). All four athletes were put forward by the IOC Executive Board (EB) for election by the IOC Session as IOC Members and were duly elected.Sarah Walker from New Zealand (cycling) came fifth in the vote, but was subsequently elected as an IOC Member by the Session to ensure a balanced representation. The IOC Session also welcomed six Honorary Members: Ottavio Cinquanta (ITA), Timothy Tsun Ting Fok (HKG), Issa Hayatou (CMR), Toni Khoury (LIB), Mounir Sabet (EGY), and Alexander Popov (RUS).16 OLYMPIC REVIEW