Noted sports promoter and founder chairperson of Reliance Foundation, Nita Ambani was today elected as an individual member of International Olympic Committee (IOC) as she becomes the first Indian woman to join the prestigious body which governs Olympic sports in the world.
After being nominated in June by the IOC Executive Board, Ambani was today elected by IOC members at the 129th Session of the world body, just a day before the opening ceremony of the 31st Olympics Games in Rio de Janeiro.
52-year-old Ambani is the only current active individual member of the IOC from India and she will serve at the high-profile world body until she attains the age of 70.
Former Indian Olympic Association Secretary General, Randhir Singh, who served as IOC member from India from 2001-2014, is currently an honorary member of the world body.
The independent selection process follows a new procedure for the recruitment of IOC members based on the Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations. These nomination were done wholly on merit and then elected by existing IOC members.
As founder and chairperson of the Reliance Foundation, Ambani has been steering initiatives in the area of education, sports, health and art and culture.
She is involved in promoting multiple sports in India with focus on developing talent through a number of large-scale grassroots initiatives. The grassroots programmes that she has initiated have reached out to over 3 million children in multiple sports. She is the architect of Indian Super League which has helped in raising the profile of Indian football.
"I am truly humbled and overwhelmed to be elected by the IOC. This is a recognition of the growing importance of India in the world stage and a recognition for Indian women," Ambani said in a release.
"I have always believed in the power of sport to shape our youth. I believe that sports brings together communities, cultures, and generations has the power to unify and unite people. I look forward to spreading the spirit of Olympics and sports across our nation," she added.
8 Winter Olympic Sports Women Were Barred From
Cross-Country Skiing: 1952(01 of08)
Open Image ModalFirst men's competition: 1924
Cross-country was the last of the ski disciplines to go co-ed, but ladies still got an early start compared to other sports. Look how "pretty and eligible" the women's ski team was in 1960. (credit:LIFE magazine, February 8, 1960)
Speed Skating: 1960(02 of08)
Open Image ModalFirst men's competition: 1924
Women competed in international competitions for over 30 years before ladies' speed skating officially debuted in the 1960 Olympic games. (credit: ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images)
Biathlon: 1992(03 of08)
Open Image ModalFirst men's competition: 1924
With origins in Norwegian military training, the biathlon combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Because, of course. Biathletes carry their rifles for the duration of the race. This year, men and women will compete in a mixed relay together for the first time. (credit:Associated Press)
Curling: 1998(04 of08)
Open Image ModalMen's competition: 1924
Curling really had to hustle before it was fully incorporated into the Olympic games. It was included only as a "demonstration sport" in many games between 1924 and 1998 before finally earning official status, when a women's event was also added. (credit:Associated Press)
Ice Hockey: 1998(05 of08)
Open Image ModalFirst men's competition: 1924
Perhaps people thought women's hockey was less fun to watch, given women's terribly boring habit of using their words to work out disagreements. (credit:Atsushi Tomura via Getty Images)
Bobsleigh: 2002(06 of08)
Open Image ModalSki Jumping: 2014(07 of08)
Open Image ModalSki jumping will be offered for women for the first time ever at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. Winners scores are given based on distance, style, inrun length and wind conditions. Luckily, women are famously good multi-taskers (credit:Adam Pretty via Getty Images)
Nordic Combined: Still Waiting...(08 of08)
Open Image ModalFirst men's competition: 1924
The Nordic Combined includes cross-country skiing and ski jumping. Women compete in Olympic cross-country skiing and ski jumping. Here are all the women allowed to compete in the Nordic Combined in 2014. (credit:Cultura/Manuel Sulzer via Getty Images)