Oct. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Colin Moynihan, a former U.K. sports minister, will help oversee London's preparations for the 2012 Games after being appointed chairman of the British Olympic Association.
The 50-year-old, who sits in the U.K. House of Lords after spending nine years as a Conservative member of parliament, beat former Olympic 400-meter hurdles champion David Hemery by 28 to 15 in a vote of BOA members in west London today. Hemery will continue as vice chairman.
Moynihan, who has promised to quit politics, will oversee the distribution of BOA income that totaled 10.2 million pounds ($18 million) in 2004 and sit on the board of the organizing committee for the 2012 showpiece. The U.K. capital plans to spend $15.8 billion to prepare for the event.
``We intend to generate a financial and sporting legacy for U.K. Olympic governing bodies of sport which befit a host Olympic nation,'' Moynihan told the BOA Web site.
Moynihan won over the majority of the BOA's 45 members, comprising representatives of the 35 summer and winter Olympic sports. The association also includes individuals such as three- time Olympic rowing gold medalist Matthew Pinsent and triple-jumper Jonathan Edwards.
The new chairman will be charged with improving on last year's haul of 30 medals at the Athens Olympics, the country's best performance since Los Angeles in 1984, as athletes look forward to performing on home soil after Beijing 2008.
Funding
Last year, the BOA had a 1.5 million-pound surplus as revenue tripled on increased sponsorship and donations in Olympic year. In 2003, the BOA received 3.3 million pounds and had a loss of 841,000 pounds.
Of the $2.1 billion London plans to spend directly on the Games, $700 million will go on sports venues, $800 million on the Olympic Park and $600 million on roads and railways.
Moynihan's ``enthusiasm, leadership and passion for sport will enable the BOA to make the necessary step-change to meet the challenges we face in the build up to the London Olympic Games in 2012,'' said BOA Chief Executive Simon Clegg.
As a sportsman, Moynihan coxed Oxford University in the varsity boat race against Cambridge in 1977 and went on to call Britain's eight to a silver medal in the 1980 Olympics and gold in the world championships a year later.
Outgoing chairman Craig Reedie, who served for 13 years, had wanted Pinsent to succeed him. The former rowing partner of Steven Redgrave chose instead to concentrate on a career in broadcasting.
Ministerial Anger
According to the Guardian newspaper, Sports Minister Richard Caborn pressured BOA members to support 61-year-old Hemery, who took gold at Mexico City in 1968 and went on to head U.K. track and field's ruling body.
Moynihan annoyed Caborn by asking questions in the House of Lords that the government minister thought may harm London's chances of hosting the Games, the Guardian said. He's also the second Conservative on the organizing committee, alongside Sebastian Coe, the peer who led London's bid.
Moyinhan also upset sports administrators last month by publishing a report into the running of sports in the U.K., the paper added. The study recommended abolishing non-governmental organizations including U.K. Sport, which helps distribute funds to elite athletes.
He served as a lawmaker between 1983 and 1992 and was a member of the government for three years through 1990. The former energy minister also runs a company, Colin Moynihan Associates, which advises on energy issues.
