– Lausanne, Switzerland
During the 129th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session that took place in Rio de Janeiro (BRA), ISU Honorary President Mr. Ottavio Cinquanta became Honorary IOC Member. The IOC Session also recognized the outstanding services and distinguished contributions of Mr. Cinquanta to the Olympic Movement by awarding him with the Olympic Order, the highest award of the Olympic Movement.
During the 56th ISU Congress held in Dubrovnik (CRO) Mr. Cinquanta, ISU President from 1994 to 2016 and IOC Member since 1996, was acclaimed as ISU Honorary President. After 22 years at the realm of the ISU, Mr. Cinquanta is the second longest serving ISU President after Mr. Viktor Gustav Balck (SWE) who was President from 1895-1925.
Mr. Cinquanta joined the ISU in 1975 as a ISU Short Track Speed Skating Technical Committee member and was elected its Chair in 1984. He was influential in the development of the sport and key to its inclusion in the Olympic Program. Short Track Speed Skating was a demonstration sport at the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary (CAN) and was upgraded to a full Olympic discipline in 1992.
