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Princess Haya nominated for IOC

LAUSANNE — Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is among four people in line to become new members of the International Olympic Committee.

Princess Haya, Patrick Baumann of Switzerland, Andres Botero of Colombia and Rita Subowo of Indonesia have been nominated for membership by IOC President Jacques Rogge and the executive board, the IOC said yesterday.

Their election, considered a virtual formality, will take place at the IOC session in Guatemala City in July.

“These are four highly competent individuals who would undoubtedly make an excellent contribution to the IOC and its work around the world,” Rogge said.

The IOC currently has 111 members.

Rogge noted that two of the nominees were women, as was the case in 2006. The new appointments will bring the number of female members to 14.

“This reflects the IOC’s desire to lead by example as regards our policy of increasing the number of women in sports organisations,” Rogge said.

Princess Haya was elected last year as president of the International Equestrian Federation, one of 28 sports represented in the Summer Olympics.

Baumann is secretary-general of FIBA, the international basketball federation.

Botero is president of the Colombian Olympic Committee and head of the International Water Skiing Federation.

Subowo is the first woman president of the Indonesian Olympic Committee and an executive vice-president of FIVB, the international volleyball federation.

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