MOSCOW (AP) — Asia’s top Olympic official was elected Friday as head of the global body of national Olympic committees, taking over after longtime chief Mario Vazquez Rana resigned amid political infighting.
Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah of Kuwait, head of the Olympic Council of Asia, was voted in as president of the Association of National Olympic Committees at the opening of its general assembly in Moscow.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin later addressed the group, saying sport is a force for good in the world.
Sheikh Ahmad replaces Mario Vazquez Rana, the 79-year-old Mexican media mogul who quit last month after heading ANOC for more than 30 years. ANOC represents the world’s 204 national Olympic bodies.
