Rio de Janeiro: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced the Chairperson, Executive Director and full list of members of the Coordination Commission for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The group will assist the Rio 2016 Organising Committee in the lead up to the Games as well as monitor progress and preparations. Olympic Champion and IOC Member since 1998, Nawal El Moutawakel (Morocco), is already well known to Brazilians since she led the IOC Evaluation Commission responsible for assessing the plans of all four 2016 Candidate Cities prior to the election of Rio de Janeiro as Host City on 2 October 2009.

Five continents are represented in the 17 member Coordination Commission, all of whom have previously held positions on Evaluation or Coordination Commissions or Organizing Committees for the Games. The group represents several stakeholder groups within the Olympic Movement including the athletes, National Olympic Committees and International Federations, the combination of which will facilitate the coordination required for the full success of the event. The Commission’s appointed Executive Director is Gilbert Felli, Swiss IOC member and Olympic Games Executive Director. The other members are: Alex Gilady (ISR), Alexander Popov (RUS), Beatrice Allen (GAM), Ching-Kuo Wu (TPE), Francesco Ricci Bitti (ITA), Greg Hartung (AUS), Gunilla Lindberg (SUE), John D. Coates (AUS), Julio César Maglione (URU), Nat Indrapana (TAI), Nicole Hoevertsz (ARU), Patrick Joseph Hickey (IRL), Richard L. Carrión (PUR), Sergey Bubka (UKR), Timothy Tsun Ting Fok (HKG) and Willi Kaltschmitt Luján (GUA).

According to Carlos Arthur Nuzman, President of the Rio 2016 Organising Committee, an excellent partnership will be established between Rio 2016 and the Coordination Commission. He said: “I am very pleased with the appointment of Nawal El Moutawakel given her outstanding professionalism and experience as the IOC’s Evaluation Commission Chairperson for the 2016 race. Within that role she successfully coordinated a thorough and precise evaluation of our ability to deliver the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016. The IOC has appointed a Commission of tremendously high quality individuals whose collective expertise and familiarity with the Olympic Movement will be a real strength for our work together moving forward. The Rio 2016 Organising Committee is ready to begin work together.”

Nawal El Moutawakel was the first African to become an Olympic champion by winning the 400m women hurdles at the Los Angeles 1984 Games. She is also the first woman ever appointed to chair an IOC Coordination Commission. “It is an honor. I am fully convinced that our team will assist Rio in delivering unforgettable Games in 2016. I have chaired the Evaluation Commission and I am familiar with the strengths Rio and Brazil may offer. Together, we will prove this to the whole world”, said El Moutawakel, who was in Rio from April 27 to May 2, 2009, during the Evaluation Commission’s visit.

RIO 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES COORDINATION COMMISSION

Chairperson
Nawal El Moutawakel (MAR)

Executive Director
Gilbert Felli (SUI)

Members
Alex Gilady (ISR)
Alexander Popov (RUS)
Beatrice Allen (GAM)
Ching-Kuo Wu (TPE)
Francesco Ricci Bitti (ITA)
Greg Hartung (AUS)
Gunilla Lindberg (SUE)
John D. Coates (AUS)
Julio César Maglione (URU)
Nat Indrapana (TAI)
Nicole Hoevertsz (ARU)
Patrick Joseph Hickey (IRL)
Richard L. Carrión (PUR)
Sergey Bubka (UKR)
Timothy Tsun Ting Fok (HKG)
Willi Kaltschmitt Luján (GUA)