Jacques Rogge easily won re-election as president of the International Olympic Committee today for a final four-year term.
The 67-year-old Belgian, who has served as IOC president since 2001, was the only candidate and needed a simple majority in the vote. The IOC voted 88-1 in favour of his re-election. Three members abstained from voting.
“You have given me a great honour. We have accomplished a lot together,” Rogge said. “Our focus now is on the future. We have a lot of work to do.”
Brazilian IOC member Joao Havelange asked that the vote be done simply by acclamation, but Rogge insisted on a secret ballot.
Also, the IOC elected Mario Pescante of Italy and Ser Miang Ng of Singapore as new vice presidents, rejecting two other candidates. C K Wu of Taiwan and Samih Moudallal of Syria had also submitted candidatures for vice president.
Craig Reedie of Britain and John D. Coates of Australia were elected to the executive board. Moudallal, Wu and Patrick Hickey of Ireland also ran for the posts.