The International Olympic Committee looks poised to elect Ban-Ki Moon as Chair of its important Ethics Commission.

Ban was Secretary General of the United Nations from January 2007 through to December of 2016 and is one of the world’s most respected leaders.

He has a history of supporting sport for the purpose of addressing global challenges and oversaw the inclusion of sport as an enabler as part of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Read More: OCI Names Athletes Commission for Tokyo

He carried the Olympic Torch twice while he was in office at the United Nations,

“I am deeply honoured to be nominated as the Chair of the IOC’s Ethics Commission and accept the position with a sense of humility and responsibility,” said Ban.

“The United Nations and the IOC have had a close working relationship over many years with both organisations contributing to building a peaceful and better world. In working closely under the principles of the IOC Movement I will do my best to enhance the accountability and transparency of the IOC.”

In our view the appointment makes it more likely still that Paris will beat Los Angeles to host the 2024 Olympic Games when that decision is announced in September.

Ban Ki Moon has spoken of Donald Trump being on the “wrong side of history” when it comes to climate change and such a high profile appointment of a critic is bound to have some ripples in the US and beyond.

That in turn could be a winner for Ireland for whom France remains the main rival in the bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.  We consider it unlikely that World Rugby would want to go one year in advance of a shared venue with the Olympics again in 2023 having experience of it in the run up to Tokyo next time around.

______________________________________________________

Find out more about our next major event looking at the impact of Sport for Social Good in September 2017.

______________________________________________________

Sport for Business Membership provides a network of information, innovation and intelligence to over 200 of Ireland’s leading organisations in sport and business including RTÉ, eir, Vodafone, Allianz, Nissan, the GAA and many more.  Here is a look at what we do.

______________________________________________________