Nita Ambani as the first Indian woman IOC member

Noted sports promoter and founder chairperson of Reliance Foundation, Nita Ambani was elected as an individual member of International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 4 August 2016. She was elected by IOC members at the 129th Session of the world body in Rio de Janeiro.

With this, she also becomes the first Indian woman to join the prestigious body which governs Olympic sports in the world.

Nita, the owner of Mumbai Indians cricket team franchise and founder of Indian Super League football tournament, was nominated for the post in June 2016 by the IOC Executive Board. 52-year-old Nita is the only current active individual member of the IOC from India and she will serve at the high-profile world body until she attains the age of 70.

Sir Dorabji Tata was the first person to represent India in the IOC. Raja Randhir Singh is currently holding the post of an honorary member after serving the international body from 2000-2014.

Besides Nita, seven other IOC Members were elected at the 129th IOC Session ahead of the Olympic Games Rio 2016. They are:
• Sari Essayah (Finland)
• Ivo Ferriani (Italy)
• Luis Moreno (Colombia)
• Auvita Rapilla (Papua New Guinea)
• Anant Singh (South Africa)
• Tricia Smith (Canada)
• Karl Stoss (Austria)

Apart from this, two Vice-Presidents were also elected on the executive board. They are:
• Juan Antonio Samaranch (Spain)
• Ugur Erdener (Turkey)

The two new Vice-Presidents will replace outgoing Vice-Presidents Nawal El Moutawakel (Morocco) and Sir Craig Reedie (Great Britain).