It was today confirmed that Annamarie Phelps CBE has become Vice-Chair of the British Olympic Association (BOA).
The 43-members of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) voted unanimously to elect Phelps, filling the position left by Sir Hugh Robertson following his appointment as Chairman in November 2016.
Phelps is a greatly respected Olympian, who is currently the Chairman of British Rowing and has served on the Board of the BOA since 2015.
As an Olympic rower Phelps competed in Atlanta 1996 in the women’s eight, and as a member of the Great Britain Rowing Team was world champion and three times silver medal winner in the lightweight women’s four and indoor rowing world champion and world record holder.
Speaking of the appointment, Phelps said: “Since retiring from competitive rowing I have retained an involvement in sport at all levels and across a number of organisations. I believe that I can bring experience from across sport, commercial and charity sectors in a number of important areas.
“I will bring a personal commitment to work with the Board, Chair and Senior Leadership Team to ensure the BOA remains a strong, innovative and well-governed leader in British sport working with, and supporting, the
National Governing Bodies to achieve even greater success in future years.”
Chairman Sir Hugh Robertson commented on the appointment, saying: “It will be a privilege to work alongside Annamarie in her capacity as Vice-Chair. Her appointment is a validation of the fact that she is extremely well respected not only here at the BOA and British Rowing, but in the wider sporting community.
“It is important for the BOA to have as its Vice-Chair someone with the perspective of another athlete, who has vast experience of running a national governing body and is a female leader.
“It also exemplifies the determination that exists at the BOA to develop a class leading Governance structure.”
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.
The 43-member NOC is comprised of one representative from each of the summer and winter Olympic 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.