Commonwealth Games Federation Gets New President & Vice President

Malaysia’s HRH Prince Tunku Imraan has been elected the new president of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) after Jamaican Michael Fennell had stepped down earlier this year after a 17-year spell.

Along with this appointment South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee President Gideon Sam was elected Vice President of the CGF, both announced on Friday.

Sam’s election is seen as a major coup for the South African sports body. 

Imran has served 11 years on the CGF Board as vice-president.

Sam, a veteran South African sports administrator, has been president of South Africa’s Olympic governing body since 2008.

He has previously headed up the national swimming federation as well as the triathlon code.

Sam described his election as a humbling experience

“I am looking forward to helping the Commonwealth Games movement go from strength to strength and making sure that it is afforded due recognition in the sporting arena,” he said.

The other vice-president’s position will be filled by Canada’s Bruce Robertson.

The Congress is also expected to announce the winner of the host city for the 2018 Commonwealth Games with Hambantoto in Sri Lanka and Gold Coast in Australia the two bidding cities.