Former Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic was elected on Friday as a member of the International Olympic Committee after she was nominated by IOC president Thomas Bach.

I am exceptionally honoured to be a member of the International Olympic Committee. That is not just my personal achievement but also recognition of all of Croatia’s sporting achievements and excellent results by Croatian athletes who represent our homeland in the world as a nation of brilliant talents and valuable people, who consistently promote the principles and values of the Olympic movement, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic said after being elected with 86 votes for and 3 against.

Grabar-Kitarovic underlined the importance of sport in combating challenges that the world if faced with at the moment and its value for all those who wish to be active in sport.

I have always advocated greater investment in sporting activities for young people and to enable mass access to sporting activities from the earliest childhood as that is the only way to achieve great success and create and develop excellent athletes who promote their homeland and general human values of effort, humanity, persistence and friendship.

In addition to Grabar-Kitarovic, all other nominees were elected to the IOC, including Marie de la Caridad Colon Ruenes of Cuba, Princess Reeme Bandar Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia, Battushig Batbold of Mongolia, and British athlete and president of World Athletics Sebastian Coe.