US ice hockey player Ruggiero elected IOC athletes commission chair

Rio de Janeiro, Aug 2 (IANS) American ice hockey Olympic champion Angela Ruggiero has been elected as the new chair of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)'s Athletes' Commission, replacing outgoing chair Claudia Bokel.

Ruggiero is the current vice-chair of the Commission, which acts as the voice of the athletes within the IOC and the Olympic Movement, and is a former ice hockey player who has played more games for Team US than any other man or woman, reports Xinhua.

"I am grateful for the trust my fellow IOC Athletes' Commission members have put in me and my work. It is an important time within the Olympic Movement and our Commission has a great responsibility. I will make sure our voices aren't just heard, but that they are effective and that we empower athletes around the world to do the same," said Ruggiero on Monday.

After four years at the helm of the Commission, Bokel will see her term of office come to an end at the conclusion of the Olympic Games Rio 2016.

Tony Estanguet was in turn elected as vice chair.