Congratulations from the world sports community are pouring in on the news of the election of the president of the Korean Olympic Committee for the 2004 Athens Olympic Table Tennis Champion.
Former IOC member Yoo Seung Min (former president of the Korea Table Tennis Association) was elected with the most votes of 2,244 electors and 417 out of 1,209 valid votes in the 42nd Korea Olympic Committee presidential election held at Olympic Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul on the 14th. It was a huge turnaround, beating second-place Korean Sports Council President Lee Ki-heung (379 votes) by 38 votes.
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| Caption">Candidate No. 3 Yoo Seung Min of the 42nd Korean Olympic Committee election held at Olympic Hall in Olympic Park, Seoul, on the 14th. Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2025.1.14/ |
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News of the election of the 'young sports leader' Yoo Seung Min was reported to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in real time. IOC President Thomas Bach, whose term expires in June, personally called Yoo to congratulate him. "Let's meet at Lausanne as soon as possible. Let's continue our close cooperation with the IOC." President-elect Yoo responded by saying, "I was encouraged by the chairman's praise of the IOC meeting held in Paris last summer as a result of his hard work."
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) was also elected as the new chairman of the Korean Olympic Committee (KSOC) under the title of 'Olympic Champion Yoo Seung Min, Elected as Chairman of the Republic of Korea Olympic Committee' on the main screen of its website on the 15th (Korea time). Yoo Seung Min, the gold medalist in men's singles at the 2004 Athens Olympics, confirmed his victory in the election held in Seoul on the 14thYoo Seung Min, who served as the president of the Korea Table Tennis Association and an executive member of the ITTF, took on a new role based on his extensive experience in sports administration. From 2016 to 2024, he has had an outstanding career, serving as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for eight years", he introduced. "ITTF sincerely congratulates Chairman Yoo Seung Min on this meaningful achievement."His continued commitment to the development of sports and his remarkable journey from Olympic champion to sports administrator is a good example of the unwavering spirit of table tennis that nurtures future leaders. " The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) also congratulated the president-elect of Yoo Seung Min 'Asian Sports Legend'.
Amid a flurry of congratulatory messages from the world's sports community, analysts say there is a good possibility that Yoo Seung Min will re-enter the IOC membership. When the term of IOC member Lee Ki-heung expires at the end of February, the number of IOC members in Korea will be reduced to one Kim Jae-yeol, chairman of the International Skating Union. The IOC is also surprised to see that the former IOC member 'Youth Leader'Yoo Seung Min defeated Chairman Lee Ki-heung, known as 'IOC President'Sport President' to be elected as KOC President. A former Olympic champion, he has been recognized as a hard worker in seven committees for eight years, has established close networking with IOC members around the world, and has a rich career in sports administration in sports and continental organizations through the president of the Korea Table Tennis Association, the executive member of the ITTF, and the executive member of the OCA. During his term as an IOC member, he successfully hosted the Pyeongchang Olympics and the Gangwon Youth Winter Olympics, and Bach, a former Olympic fencing champion, is also highly trusted. Due to his smooth personality and communication skills, he has also been acquainted with IOC members who are up and down as candidates for the new chairman. It is evaluated that the possibility of re-entry into the IOC is sufficiently possible.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
