Swimming stars O'Neill, Popov elected to IOC

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Sydney: Swimming stars Susie O'Neill of Australia and Alexander Popov of Russia were elected to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Saturday.

Popov and O'Neill were among a group of eight athletes to join the IOC. The others were Ukrainian pole vaulter Sergei Bubka, Czech javelin thrower Jan Zelezny, former Canadian track and field athlete Charmaine Crooks, US volleyball player Robert Ctvrtlik, German rower Roland Barr and Spanish swimmer Manuel Estiarte.

The eight were put forward for membership after a poll of Olympic athletes.Bubka, Popov, O'Neill and Ctvrtlik were elected for eight years, while Zelezny, Crooks, Barr and Estiarte will serve for four years.

Bubka was elected a member of the IOC's ruling executive board, together with Italian Ottavio Cinquanta, the head of the Association of Winter Sports Federations.

"It is a great honour and a great moment in my life," Bubka told the session."Three days ago I finished my active sporting career."

Bubka won the vote for the board against Crooks and former Norwegian speed skater Johann Olav Koss.

Before Saturday's elections, IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch presented Henry Kissinger with a medal in recognition of his contribution to the IOC's recent reform programme.

As an honorary member of the IOC, Kissinger, the former US Secretary of State, is entitled to attend meetings but may not vote.

The IOC has been under pressure to reform following the Salt Lake City bribery scandal in which 10 members were forced out for accepting gifts during the US city's successful bid for the 2002 Winter Games.



(c) Reuters Limited.