UCI president McQuaid elected to International Olympic Committee

Cycling's profile as a major world sport continues to rise with the news that UCI president Pat McQuad has been elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee.

The 60-year-old Irishman is one of six candidates nominated for the post at the 122nd IOC Session held in Vancouver in conjunction with the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

His election as a Member of the IOC follows his distinction in being returned unopposed last September for a second four-year term as UCI President.

McQuaid was nominated for membership of the IOC by President of the Olympic Council of Ireland Pat Hickey, with particular recognition for his role in pioneering cycling's biological passport anti-doping initiative.

McQuaid commented: “I am deeply honoured to be elected as one of the IOC members and to represent and promote the interests of the IOC and Olympic Movement, in Ireland and elsewhere throughout the world.

“I look forward to working with its President Jacques Rogge and its members and to building upon the productive relations that I have already established with the IOC through my role as President of the UCI.

“My new role will extend beyond cycling and my objective is to replicate the success of the IOC's working relationship with the UCI which has contributed significantly to the enhanced professionalism and globalisation of cycling while also resulting in the introduction of new Olympic disciplines.

“Our work to introduce BMX as a new Olympic discipline and to make several changes to the track cycling programme of the 2012 Olympic Games are case studies of how to improve the popularity of sport and how to attract young people to participate in sport.”