Richard Pound and Pal Schmitt, the longest -serving members of the IOC, have retired

The two oldest members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Canadian Richard Pound and the hungarian Pal Schmittretired this Friday and passed into the ‘honorary members’ category, with no more votes in the assembly.

Both reached the age of 80 in 2022, the age set by the Olympic Charter for retirement in the case of members entering the IOC before the 1999 reform, which set it at 70.

Pound and Schmitt were both Olympians, respectively in swimming (1960) and fencing (1960 gold; 1972 gold; and 1976).

This is not the only point common in their Olympic biographies: the two came to take over the IOC vice-president and opted for the presidency in 2001; but Belgian Jacques Rogge won the race to replace Spanish Juan Antonio Samaranch.

The 139th Session of the IOC unanimously approved their status as honorary members, which would allow them to continue attending assemblies and Games, but not participate in decision-making.

Dick PoundSi, a lawyer, joined the Committee in 1978 and served as its vice president for two terms, from 1987 to 1991 and from 1996 to 2000.

The until now dean of the organization was also the first president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, between 1999 and 2007.

Pal Schmittdiplomat and politician, he was ambassador to Spain in the 1990s and president of his country from 2010 to 2012.

He joined the IOC in 1983. He served as vice president between 1995 and 1999 and became its advocate and first president of the Environment Commission.

After the withdrawal of Pound and Schmitt, the dean of the IOC was Princess Nora of Liechtenstein, an IOC member since 1984 and turning 72 in October.