Japanese fencer Ota elected to IOC Athletes’ Commission

Yuki Ota. © Japan Times
Yuki Ota. © Japan Times

Tokyo, Japan, August 4, 2021: The athletes at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 have elected Pau Gasol, Maja Włoszczowska, Federica Pellegrini and Yuki Ota to the IOC Athletes’ Commission for a term ending at the Olympic Games LA28. 

Ota is a four-time Olympian in fencing for Japan. He was silver medallist at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, world champion in 2015 and bronze medallist in 2010.

The newly elected members join the Commission to represent the athlete voice within the Olympic Movement.

Between 13 July and 3 August, 6,825 athletes voted in the IOC AC election at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, representing a participation rate of 61.27 per cent, one of the highest in the history of AC elections, the first of which was held at the Olympic Games Atlanta 1996.

With the highest number of voting stations for any IOC AC election, athletes had the opportunity to vote in 11 locations, including the Tokyo Olympic Village, satellite villages and other official Tokyo 2020 accommodation sites. 

In total, 30 candidates, from 30 different countries and representing 19 sports, stood for election.

A new Chair and Vice-Chair will now be elected by the IOC AC members on 6 August, with the Chair also set to become a member of the IOC Executive Board, representing athletes at the highest level within the IOC.