It was today confirmed that Sir Hugh Robertson will become Chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA).
It was today confirmed that Sir Hugh Robertson will become Chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA).
The 43-members of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) voted to elect Robertson, replacing current incumbent Lord Sebastian Coe.
A highly respected figure in sport, having served previously as Minister for Sport and The Olympics, Robertson played a pivotal role in the delivery of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and more recently the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Robertson, current BOA Vice-Chairman, stood against Richard Leman and following his success will serve a four-year term as BOA Chairman, beginning today. Robertson succeeds Lord Coe who will now concentrate on his presidency of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) after four years in the post.
The BOA works in partnership with its members and key stakeholders to deliver world-leading services and support to enable British athletes to reach their full potential at the Olympic Games, Olympic Winter Games and other International Olympic Committee (IOC) sanctioned events. In addition to this the BOA aims to engage with people throughout the UK and Northern Ireland to pursue their own goals through the Olympic values and the example of Team GB Olympians.
As Chairman of the BOA, Robertson will lead the BOA Board in mapping out the future direction of the organisation and making certain that Team GB athletes have the resources, preparation and support they need to continue to excel in the forthcoming PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Under the leadership of Robertson, the BOA will work collaboratively with partners across government, sport and the private sector to ensure the inspiration of the success of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games translates into a tangible legacy that benefits every level of sport in the UK, whilst continuing to deliver elite performance success during the Summer and Winter Olympic programmes.
During his four-year tenure as BOA Chairman Lord Coe has led the organisation to an extremely sound financial footing, has strengthened relations with key stakeholders including National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and UK Sport, and continued the primary focus on the athlete journey and preparation, building on the success at London 2012.
Under Lord Coe Team GB made history at Rio 2016 as it won 67 medals, surpassing the total of 65 medals at London 2012 and finishing second in the medal to become the first country ever to win more medals having just previously hosted a summer Olympic Games, and winning golds across more sports than any other nation in the process.
The 43-member NOC is comprised of one representative from each of the summer and winter sport NGBs (35); the four British members of the IOC; the Chair and the Vice Chair of the BOA; and two members of the Athletes’ Commission.
New British Olympic Association Chairman Sir Hugh Robertson said: “Following on from my involvement with London 2012, it is a great privilege for me to become Chairman of the British Olympic Association. After the success of Rio 2016, this is an extraordinarily exciting moment for British Olympic sport. I want to build on this success and drive the organisation forward both on and off the field of play. I would like to pay tribute to my friend and predecessor Lord Coe for the positive impact he has had on British sport, and in particular Olympic sport and it is with great pride that I follow in his footsteps. The success of Team GB does not come by chance and the meticulous preparations and dedication to the athletes will remain at the forefront of our work. I am thrilled to be part of this and to work collaboratively with our myriad stakeholders to provide the best possible platform for success for the athletes during the Summer and Winter Olympic programmes.”
British Olympic Association CEO Bill Sweeney said: “The arrival of Sir Hugh comes at an exciting time for the British Olympic Association. As a recognised power in the global Olympic landscape after the history making feats in Rio, Team GB is perfectly positioned to grow both commercially and competitively. Sir Hugh’s track record in sport is exemplary and his international experience will help drive the continued growth of the organisation for PyeongChang and Tokyo, that has already been started by Lord Coe. I would like to take the opportunity to thank Lord Coe for his stewardship as Chairman and for the vital and impactful role he played during his four years at the BOA.”