New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) looks to pass as running back Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis blocks while playing against the Philadelphia Eagles. REUTERS photo

Former Turkish decathlon athlete Ayhan Kasapoğlu has been elected as an executive committee member of the World Olympians Association (WOA).

In an election held over the weekend in Lausanne, Switzerland, Joel Bouzou of France was elected as the association’s new president and Anthony Ledgard Grimm of Peru will become secretary-general.

Kasapoğlu, who was born in Bulgaria in 1966, joined his first official race at the age of 12. He started to compete in decathlon in 1984. In 1990 he accepted Turkish citizenship.

Kasapoğlu finished second in the 1991 Mediterranean Games and won the gold medal at the Balkan Games in 1994, making him the first Turkish athlete to clinch the event’s decathlon title.

He was a two-time Olympian who competed in the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Games. He was 23rd in Barcelona and 29th four years later.

The WOA is an association of Olympians from all over the world that was set up in 1995 to promote the dissemination of Olympic ideals and fair play. It stands as an advocate of environmental protection, educates against doping and drug use, supplies educational resources and works against violence and intolerance, as well as supporting diversity and equality. It also contributes to sport related charities, involving Olympians in social support, displaying positive role models and promoting the culture of which sport is a part.