Adam Pengilly from Great Britain (bobsleigh) and Angela Marie Ruggiero from the USA (ice hockey) have been elected to the Athletes’ Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by their peers at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games for a term of eight years.

During this period, they will also serve as IOC members, bringing the athletes' voice right to the heart of the Olympic Movement. The announcement was made today at Vancouver’s Olympic Village by Anita L. DeFrantz, Chairwoman of the Election Committee and IOC member.

Pengilly was elected with 615 votes, followed by Ruggiero with 605 votes. Pengilly and Ruggiero will be officially introduced at the Closing Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games on 28 February.

The election was held over the past 19 days in the Olympic Villages in Vancouver and Whistler. Australia’s Jacqui Cooper was among the contenders for the two positions.

Following the announcement, DeFrantz stated: "The athletes are at the centre of everything we do, and the Commission ensures that their voice is heard in all important decisions taken by the IOC. The two new members can make a valuable contribution to the work of this important body."
    
The IOC Athletes’ Commission was created in 1981 and serves as the voice of the active athletes within the Olympic Movement. It is composed of 19 members, of whom there are eight summer sports athletes elected by their peers at the Games of the Olympiad; four winter sports athletes elected by their peers at the Olympic Winter Games; and up to seven athletes appointed by the IOC President to ensure a balance in terms of gender, sport and region.

In addition, a World Olympians Association (WOA) representative and an International Paralympic Committee (IPC) representative are also part of the Commission, which is currently chaired by well-known Namibian sprinter Frank Fredericks, also a member of the IOC Executive Board.