Biathlon Australia warmly congratulates Ian Chesterman on his election as an International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member at the IOC Session in Paris overnight.

Chesterman was one of eight new Members elected with his membership linked to his function as President of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and commences on January 1, 2025.

The Tasmanian-based sports administrator has a long history with the Olympics, having first attended the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary as a media representative. Since then he has been at a further 11 Olympic Games, leading the Australian Team as Chef de Mission at six Olympic Winter Games (Nagano 1998 to PyeongChang 2018) as well as at Tokyo 2020.

Chesterman was also Chef de Mission of the Australian team at the 2016 Lillehammer Winter Youth Olympic Games.

He is the only Australian to have the honour of leading teams across Winter and Summer Games, providing him with a rare insight and deep understanding of the work of the IOC, the role of the host city and the importance of placing the athletes at the heart of movement.

Chesterman has served on the Executive of the Australian Olympic Committee since 2001 and was Vice President from 2016 until being elected President in 2022.

He is Vice President of the Organising Committee for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and an Executive Member of the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC).

“The Australian biathlon community is delighted to learn of the appointment of Ian Chesterman to the International Olympic Committee,” said David Windsor, Chair of Biathlon Australia.

“Ian is a true champion of winter sports in this country and has been a long-time supporter of Biathlon Australia.

“In January he was in Gangwon at the Youth Olympic Games and didn’t miss a day of competition when our six athletes were competing.

“The expertise he brings to the AOC will now be beneficial to the global sporting landscape and his appointment is very much deserved.”

Chesterman feels that his engagement across so many different aspects of the Olympics leaves him well placed to add value to the IOC when he commences in January next year.

He becomes the 13th Australian to serve as an IOC Member across the 130-year history of the organisation.

“The honour of being elected as an IOC Member provides me with an even greater opportunity to serve the Olympic movement and make a further contribution to something so close to my heart,” Chesterman said. 

“I believe in the power of sport to impact lives and communities, and the IOC and the Olympic movement does so much good work around the world creating opportunities for our youth and inspiring the generations to come.

“It’s an incredibly exciting time to be involved, particularly with Australia hosting another Olympic Games in 2032.

“I feel I have the knowledge and the background to successfully represent the IOC in Australia and I’m highly motivated to ensure we deliver the best possible Games in Brisbane that further enhances the position of the Olympic movement in Australia and around the world,” Chesterman said.

Chesterman will take his place as a member as current IOC Vice President, John Coates, completes his final term as an IOC Member on December 31, 2024.

“I’m particularly honoured to follow in the footsteps of John Coates as an IOC member in Australia who has made an extraordinary contribution, and I congratulate him on being voted in as an IOC Honorary Member at the Session as well,” Chesterman said.

Coates knows the workings of the IOC intimately and believes his successor is well qualified for his new role.

 “I am very pleased for the IOC and I am very pleased for Ian. As Chef de Mission of seven Winter Olympic and Summer Olympic Games Teams and President of the AOC, Ian has devoted himself to the service of the athletes who are at the core of our movement.

“Ian is ideally qualified to represent and promote the interests of the IOC in Australia and with all his Games’ experience, play a key role in the organisation and delivery of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane,” Coates said.