The global badminton fraternity celebrates the ascension of one of its finest servants, Sir Craig Reedie, to the post of Vice-President of the International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board.

A former president of the International Badminton Federation – the precursor to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) – Sir Craig (featured image, left) was elected at the IOC Session in London today. He is the second Briton to hold this position, following Lord Burghley – the 1928 Olympic 400m hurdles champion – who stood down from the office in 1966. He has been a member of the IOC Executive Board since October 2009.

The Executive Board manages the affairs of the IOC. Among its responsibilities are: ensuring the observance of the Olympic Charter; overseeing the administration of the IOC; enacting codes, rulings, norms, guidelines, guides and instructions where necessary to ensure the proper implementation of the Olympic Charter; and organising the Olympic Games. The Board is chaired by the IOC president and comprises four vice presidents and ten other members.

Lauding Sir Craig’s elevation, BWF President Dr Kang Young Joong (featured image, right) hailed the achievement as testimony to Sir Craig’s “dedicated and distinguished service to sports over several years”.

“We at Badminton World Federation are particularly proud to witness the election of one of our own to this prestigious position within the Olympic movement. It is an honour of which he is indeed worthy.

“We extend sincerest congratulations to Sir Craig and we are certain his vast reservoir of knowledge and experience will continue to stand him and the IOC in admirable stead.”

Sir Craig, a 71-year-old sports administrator was one of the key figures in London’s successful Olympics and Paralympics bid – for which he was knighted – and it is fitting that his latest accolade comes on the eve of the Summer Games’ Opening Ceremony tomorrow. A former chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA) from 1992 to 2005, he was the driving force behind badminton’s admission to the Olympic programme in Barcelona in 1992.