ZAGREB, 11 Oct 2021 - Former Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović has been appointed as the Chair of the Future Host Commission for the Games of the Olympiad, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reported on its website on Monday.

A press release by the IOC notes that Grabar-Kitarović, an IOC member since 2020, will immediately replace former Chair Kristin Koster Aasen, who stood down following her election to the Executive Board (EB) because no EB member can serve on the Future Host Commissions.

"I am grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with potential hosts on Olympic projects, which will help them to achieve their long-term goals for development, public health, sports participation and inclusion. I would like to continue to build on the great work begun under Kristin's leadership. It is an exciting chance to develop innovative ways to steer the Olympic Games into the future and explore the challenges facing upcoming hosts, such as climate change," Grabar-Kitarović said.

IOC President Thomas Bach also commented on Grabar-Kitarović's appointment.

"The Future Host Commissions have an important role in shaping the future of the Olympic Movement. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović will bring rich and diverse skills and experience, including at the very highest levels of government and international relations. As a member of the same Commission, she has already contributed to the successful delivery of the first election under the new approach to choosing Olympic and Paralympic hosts, with the selection of Brisbane 2032," he added.

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June 11, 2020 - Former Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic could become a new member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), whose Executive Committee nominated a total of five new members of the international umbrella sports organization on Wednesday.

T.portal writes that according to the official website of the International Olympic Committee, five candidates have been nominated by the Executive Board of that organization: Maria de la Caridad Colón Ruenes from Cuba, Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud from Saudi Arabia, Battushig Batbold from Mongolia, famous athlete Sebastian Coe from Great Britain and Kolinda Grabar Kitarović from Croatia.

Candidates were selected by a special commission, and the final decision will be made at a virtual session on July 17, 2020.

IOC President Thomas Bach said the selection of these five candidates would benefit the entire Olympic movement because of their skills and expertise.

"By nominating three female candidates, the IOC is once again demonstrating its commitment to promoting gender equality among its leadership," the statement said.

The International Olympic Committee is a non-profit international organization made up of volunteers, dedicated to building a better world through sport, the IOC said at the end of the statement, adding that the IOC redistributes more than 90 percent of its revenues to the wider sports movement, which means that every day the equivalent of $ 3.4 million goes to help athletes and sports organizations at all levels around the world.

According to the Croatian Encyclopedia, the IOC is the organization that manages the Olympic movement, and its main task is to ensure the regular holding of the Olympic Games, to supervise their preparations and implementation. It also has the exclusive right to decide on the Olympic flag, anthem and symbols. It was founded in 1894 in Paris, and since 1914 has been based in Lausanne.

IOC members are elected from among nationals of countries with a recognized National Olympic Committee and they are not representatives of their countries in the IOC, but are representatives of the IOC in their countries. At the beginning of the 21st century, 202 national committees were members of the IOC. The executive board consists of a president, vice president and 10 members, writes the Croatian Encyclopedia.

Biographies with photos of nominated members can be seen here.

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