Angela Ruggiero Appointed To IOC Exec Board, Will Chair Athlete Commission

Hockey HOFer and IOC member ANGELA RUGGIERO has been appointed to a spot on the IOC Exec Board and named Chief of the IOC's Athlete Commission, a sign of further improvement to the once-strained U.S.-IOC relationship. She becomes the second American on the elite Exec Board, joining ANITA DEFRANTZ. On the Athlete Commission, Ruggiero replaces retired German fencer CLAUDIA BOKEL. Former French Olympian TONY ESTANGUET, the co-President of the Paris 2024 bid, will now become Vice Chair, stepping into Ruggiero's former spot. The commission speaks for athletes during key IOC decisions such as choosing host cities and designing the sports program for each Games. Ruggiero was a four-time member of the U.S. women's hockey team, winning Gold in the '98 Nagano Games.