Richard Pound and Austin Sealy, two of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s longest-serving members, have both been recognized in New Year’s Honours lists.
The 72-year-old Pound, a member of the IOC since 1978 and a former two-time vice-president, was named a companion of the Order of Canada, the highest distinction within the order.
Pound’s appointment to companion was a promotion, as he was named an officer of the Order in 1992.
The Order of Canada was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1967 to “recognize outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation.”
More than 6,000 people have been named members since its inception.
Pound’s latest honour is in recognition of his nine-year spell as chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which ended in 2008.
Pound, a Montreal-based lawyer, was recently appointed by WADA to chair a Commission investigating allegations of systematic doping and cover-ups in Russia
“I’ve never thought it is right that you should get cheated out of a result because somebody is deliberately breaking the rules and taking doping substances,” said Pound.
“It’s not right, and it destroys a lot of the value of sports for everybody who plays fair and gets beaten for having done what everyone promised to do, which is to play fair.”
Sealy, meanwhile, has been made an Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.
The 74-year-old ex-banker, President of the Barbados Olympic Association between 1982 and 1996, will this year celebrate
his 21st anniversary as a member of the IOC.
Sealy, who is due to step down later this year as treasurer of the Commonwealth Games Federation, will now be known as Sir Austin.
He will join Britain’s Sir Craig Reedie and Sir Philip Craven as Knights who are also members of the IOC.
Barbados gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1966 but Queen Elizabeth II remains the country’s monarch.
“I am very appreciative of the honour,” Sealy, Barbados’ former High Commissioner to the UK, told The Nation.
“It’s nothing I’d anticipated, even though one always likes to be appreciated.”
This article was republished with permission from the original publisher, insidethegames.