HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein Elected as an International Olympic Committee Member
RELEASE: July 12, 2007
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By Malina Gueorguiev
The FEI is proud to announce that on July 7, 2007, HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein was elected as the member representing the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and as President of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI). The election took place during the 119th IOC Session held in Guatemala City. HRH Princess Haya was elected with 78 out of 91 valid votes.
“On behalf of the Olympic movement, I would like to congratulate HRH Princess Haya on her election and warmly welcome her to the IOC,” IOC President Jacques Rogge declared. “I am convinced that the dedication to the Olympic ideal she has demonstrated as an Olympian and a president of a major international federation will be a major asset for the further and better growth of our movement.”
HRH Princess Haya said, “It is the greatest honour to be elected as an IOC Member. Since the age of six I have followed the spirit of Olympism and dreamt of serving the Olympic family. Now I have been honoured by the trust of the IOC through their election of me to their membership. I thank the IOC members for the trust they have placed in me. I shall work to return that trust and, with their support, to serve the Olympic Movement to the very best of my abilities.”
Princess Haya is the third Arab woman ever to be elected and becomes the third currently serving as a member of the IOC as well as the first ever to represent the United Arab Emirates in this prestigious international capacity.
Currently there are 115 IOC Members, 15 of whom are women. According to the Olympic Charter, "Members of the IOC represent and promote the interests of the IOC and of the Olympic movement in their countries and in the organizations of the Olympic movement in which they serve."