Kit McConnell Named Sports Director of IOC

The International Olympic Committee has appointed Rugby World Cup Tournament Director Kit McConnell as its new sports director. He will succeed Christophe Dubi, who will take on the role of Olympic Games executive director.

McConnell, who has worked with the International Rugby Board for 10 years, has assisted with the delivery of three successful Rugby World Cups on and off the field. His responsibilities ranged from the management of the RWC Board, stakeholder relations and RWC event delivery to the management of the RWC bid processes and the development and implementation of all RWC-related strategies, including the redevelopment of the event-delivery, commercial and financial models.

From 2000 to 2002, McConnell was the IOC’s manager of sport operations, where he was responsible for the coordination of sport planning with organizing committees and relations with international federations. Previously, he coordinated the planning of all sports, including relations with each respective international federation for the Sydney 2000 Organizing Committee.

A native of Australia and New Zealand, the 40-year-old McConnell will take up his post in early 2014.