Sir Craig Reedie elected to IOC Executive Board

SIR Craig Reedie has been elected to the International Olympic Committee's Executive Board on the final day of the IOC Session in Copenhagen.

TOP TABLE: Great Britain's Craig Reedie has been elected to the IOC's Executive Board - a big boost to London 2012 organisers (Getty Images)

It is the first time in almost 50 years that the United Kingdom has had a representative and it means a valuable British voice at the top table of Olympic decision-making, in the build-up to the 2012 Olympics in London.

Reedie narrowly failed in his bid to join the executive board last year but won through four rounds of voting, beating Ireland's Patrick Hickey, the chairman of the European Olympic Committee, in the last ballot by 52 votes to 39.

"Thank you colleagues for your declaration of support," said Reedie, who will attend his first meeting in December this year.

"I look forward to working on the executive board, particularly on the build up to the Olympic Games in London."  

An accountant by trade, Reedie served a president of the International Badminton Federation between 1981 and 1984 and played a major role in securing the sport a place on the Olympic schedule.

He was elected chairman of the British Olympic Association in 1992 and joined the International Olympic Committee two years later.

He was knighted in 2005 for his services to sport, including playing a major role in London's successful 2012 Olympic bid.

Sir Craig becomes only the third British sports administrator to hold a position on the board, following in the footsteps of 1928 Olympic 400m hurdles champion Lord Burghley and Lord Aberdare, who both played keen roles in the organisation of the 1948 Olympics in London.

Earlier, Jacques Rogge was reelected as President of the International Olympic Committee while Italy's Mario Pescante and Singapore's Ser Miang Ng were confirmed as vice-presidents.

Australia's John Coates will also join the executive board - meaning plenty of friendly banter with Sir Craig could be on future agendas.

Coates cut a miserable figure at last year's Beijing Olympics after Great Britain beat their sporting enemy in the medal table.

"They're certainly serving it up to me," he said, when asked about his treatment at the hands of British team officials. "But their new-found cockiness has got some substance to it."