PANAM - Victor Lopez elected as Association of Pan American Athletics PresidentTuesday, 01 November 2011 00:00

Guadalajara, MEX Nov 1. - Victor Lopez of Puerto Rico was elected unopposed as theinaugural Association of Pan American Athletics (APA) President, a new regional body thatreplaces the Pan American Athletics Commission.

The Pan American Assembly of the athletics federations was held at the Intercontinental Hotelin Guadalajara on October 28th during the Pan American Games.

Lopez played a crucial role in the creation of the IAAF's Coaches Commission as well as theNorth America, Central America and Caribbean Track & Field Coaches Association. He chairsboth organizations and has also led the Central American and Caribbean AthleticsConfederation (CACAC) since 1998.

Victor Lopez congratulated by Amadeo Francis and Roberto Gesta de Melo after the elections.

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PANAM - Victor Lopez elected as Association of Pan American Athletics PresidentTuesday, 01 November 2011 00:00

The former Rice University head women's track and field coach takes the helm from hiscountryman and former IAAF Council member Amadeo Francis, who presided over the nowdefunct Pan American Athletics Commission. Francis was elected as honorary president of thenew body.

Another former IAAF Council member, Mexico’s Cesar Moreno Bravo, was elected as honorarymember.

In his acceptance speech, Lopez thanked all National Federations for their support andoutgoing chairman Amadeo Francis, who was his mentor for many years.

During the inaugural meeting, reports from the Pan American Athletics Commission’s lastsession held during the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro 2007 were discussed andAPA’s articles were approved.

Thirty-two National Federations attended the inaugural session, presided over by IAAF SeniorVice-president Robert Hersh (USA), Council Members and Area representatives NevilleMcCook (JAM-NACAC) and Roberto Gesta de Melo (BRA-CONSUDATLE), as well as Councilmember Alberto Juantorena and the Pan American Comission Treasurer Joanne Mortimore(Canada).

The composition of APA’s inaugural Executive Board is as follows:

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PANAM - Victor Lopez elected as Association of Pan American Athletics PresidentTuesday, 01 November 2011 00:00

- President: Victor Lopez (Puerto Rico)

- Vicepresident: Ciro Solano (Colombia)

- Treasurer: Alain Jean Pierre (Haiti)

- Members: Claude Blackmore (Guyana), Marcos Oviedo (Venezuela), Esther Maynard(Barbados) and Rob Guy (Canada)

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PANAM - Victor Lopez elected as Association of Pan American Athletics PresidentTuesday, 01 November 2011 00:00

L to R: Cesar Moreno (MEX), Alberto Juantorena (CUB), Robert Hersh (USA), Neville McCook(JAM), Amadeo Francis (PUR), Roberto Gesta de Melo (BRA), Joanne Mortimore (CAN), VictorLopez (PUR)

Victor Lopez in his acceptance speech

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PANAM - Victor Lopez elected as Association of Pan American Athletics PresidentTuesday, 01 November 2011 00:00

Members of the Athletic Assembly

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PANAM - Victor Lopez elected as Association of Pan American Athletics PresidentTuesday, 01 November 2011 00:00

CADICA Presidents-Delegates with the APA President Victor Lopez By: Javier Clavelo (CUB) and Carlos Clemente (ESA) Images by Carlos Clemente

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