In another first for Saudi women, it was announced at the international organization’s session on 17th July, that HRH Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud has been appointed a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The royal took to her Twitter account to share the exciting and progressive news as she tweeted: “Honored to be elected as a member of IOC. Thank you to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, HRH Crown Prince, and Prince Abdul Aziz bin Turki Al-Faisal (president of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee) for their support. It has been an honor to serve my community through the universal language of sports.”
Just In: The International #Olympics Committee (IOC) Executive Board has nominated HRH Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud as a new member of the IOC. HRH @RBAlSaud has long been leading the charge for gender inclusivity in sports for #KSA, making her the perfect candidate. pic.twitter.com/2FAapOM7oY
— About Her (@AboutHerOFCL) June 10, 2020
The appointment came after three women and two men were elected for the exclusive membership by the IOC’s executive board, including Princess Reema. In its 136th session, this year held virtually and helmed by president of the board, Dr. Thomas Bach, the Saudi princess was voted in to hold the post. As a Saudi, Princess Reema was preceded in this position by Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (1983-1999), and Prince Nawwaf bin Faisal bin Fahd Al Saud (2001-2014), but is the first Saudi woman to hold the post.
Others newly appointed members of the committee include: former Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Sebastian Coe, the head of World Athletics, Cuban Olympic Committee (COC) board member Maria de la Caridad Colon Ruenes and acting Mongolian National Olympic Committee president, Battushig Batbold.
Honored to be elected as a member of #IOC. Thank you to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, HRH Crown Prince, and @AbdulazizTF for their support. It has been an honor to serve my community through the universal language of sports. @iocmedia @saudiolympic pic.twitter.com/vLsNltgz0c
— Reema Bandar Al-Saud (@rbalsaud) July 17, 2020
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, president of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee (SAOC), also congratulated Princess Reema on her appointment, and also thanked King Salman and the Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman for their continued support for Saudi’s emerging sporting scene.
For Princess Reema, this is another accolade under her belt, as since 2017 she has been serving as an active member of the World Bank’s advisory council for the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative. In 2018, she became the first female president of the Mass Participation Federation, also making her the first woman to lead a multi-sports federation in Saudi Arabia. In February 2019, she was also appointed Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to America, and was the first woman in the country’s history to be delegated the position.
