TRACK CAMP NEWS
Dick Fosbury Elected President of the World Olympians Association
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) announced today that 1968 high jump Olympic gold medalist Dick Fosbury was elected President of the World Olympians Association (WOA). The 4th General Assembly of the WOA took place at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, and concluded with today’s election. With his appointment, Fosbury will serve a four-year term as the head of the worldwide Olympian organization.
"I am thrilled and honored to be elected to this position with the World Olympians Association,” said Fosbury. “I am committed to work hard and with my best efforts to build this association and develop a new strong relationship with the International Olympic Committee and the federations."Fosbury competed for the U.S. Olympic Team in Mexico City in 1968, earning the gold medal in the high jump. Fosbury revolutionized the event with the creation of what is now known as the "Fosbury Flop", which became the standard approach for most high jumpers after his success with the technique. Fosbury is currently an officer with the U.S. Olympians Association.
The 4th General Assembly brought together more National Olympians Associations than ever before. Approximately 130 Olympians accepted the invitation to travel to Lausanne for the 12th Anniversary of the World Olympians Association. The increase in numbers of Olympians making the journey represents the ever-expanding support of Olympians worldwide for the development of the WOA and National Olympians Associations in their own countries.
Fosbury replaces Dr. Pal Schmitt from Hungary who served as president of the WOA for the last eight years. Under Dr. Schmitt’s leadership, the number of member associations in the WOA grew from 45 associations to 128.International Olympic Committee President Dr. Jacques Rogge welcomed the group and praised the work of the WOA for being instrumental in further developing and promoting the role and place of athletes in today's society, as well as in promoting the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship.
The newly elected World Olympians Association Executive Committee members are:President, Dick Fosbury-USAVice President, Charmaine Crooks-CANVice President, Stefka Kostadinova-BULTreasurer, Joel Bouzou-FRAExecutive Members:George Andreadis-GREKieren Perkins-AUSEl Hadj Amadou Dia Ba-SENDaichi Suzuki-JPNSecretary General, Anthony Ledgard-PER
1968 U.S. Olympian and gold medalist in the Decathlon Bill Toomey, who served as the first President of the United States Olympians which he ran until 1996 and a Vice President of the WOA for eight years, gave his departing speech to the delegates. Toomey urged them to continue to promote the credibility of sport and the position of the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement in today's society.