Bubka becomes new chairman of IOC Athletes' Commission

Ukrainian Sergei Bubka has become the new chairman of the IOC Athletes' Commission.

The 39-year-old sportsman was nominated by the International Olympic Committee's president Jacques Rogge and was unanimously approved at the joint session of the Athletes' Commission and the IOC Executive Board on Tuesday, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported.

In this post Bubka succeeded Finnish yachtsman Peter Talberg, who had headed the Commission since its set-up in 1981. The Commission consists of 19 athletes.

Immediately after his election Bubka said that he felt the great responsibility of his new post and would do his best to strengthen the role of athletes in the Olympic movement.

The most outstanding pole-vaulter of our time, Sergei Bubka was the Olympic champion in Seoul in 1988, won 6 world championships and beat world records 35 times. He is the current record holder with 6.15 meters.

Bubka has been a member of the IOC Athletes' Commission since 1996 and was the first active sportsman to be elected a member of the IOC Executive Board in 2000.