The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced the election of 3 new IOC members at the 123rd IOC Session in Durban, South Africa. The new members include International Canoe Federation (ICF) President José Perurena López who was among the candidates nominated by the IOC Executive Board at the board meeting in April.

Mr. Perurena 66, has been President of the ICF since 2008 and has spent the past 3 years anchoring the relatively small International Federation to some hard won successes – most recently he led the successful campaign to include paracanoe into the Rio 2016 Sport Programme and has made it possible for canoeing fans to watch live TV coverage of ICF events. Prior to his current position as ICF President, he was the ICF's 1st Vice President for several years and had already served four years as General Secretary from 2000 - 2004. He has also held the position of president at the Spanish Canoe Federation and is a member of the Spanish Olympic Committee.

With over 30 years of service within the Olympic Movement, being granted IOC Membership is paramount to many accomplishments. Asked what IOC Membership means to him, Mr. Perurena said, “First and foremost it is an absolute honour to be an IOC Member and to officially represent a movement I have spent the better half of my life promoting and supporting. For me this position affirms that I have been doing something right and I now want to extend myself even more, to ensure that those that have entrusted me with this important position, which carries great responsibilities, know that they voted for the right man.”

IOC members are elected by current members who meet every year at the IOC Session in order to take decisions concerning the Institution and the Olympic Games. The IOC members are elected for a period of eight years, and their mandate can be renewed.