International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge and 26 other members were re-elected as a group by their colleagues on the Olympic body in a process instituted after the Salt Lake City bidding scandal.
The 27 members were put to a vote in one bloc at the IOC assembly and were re-elected to eight-year terms in a secret ballot by a vote of 90-5 with four abstentions.
The re-election was for regular membership and did not affect Rogge’s presidential seat which expires in 2009 and he is also eligible for a another four-year mandate.
Among others re-elected were FIFA President Sepp Blatter of Switzerland, former FIFA President Joao Havelange of Brazil, Prince Albert of Monaco, and IOC vice president Gunilla Lindberg of Sweden.
Youth Olympics
Meanwhile, Olympic leaders have voted to create a Youth Olympics meant to inspire youngsters to take up sports.
The first is planned in 2010 for 3,500 athletes, aged 14 to18.
The details of the programme approved unanimously  are yet to be worked out, but the first event would take place during the northern hemisphere’s summer and the venue will be chosen in February.
With about a third of the 10,000 that compete during the regular Olympics, it would be possible for smaller countries to host the competition, Rogge said.
Though fewer Olympic events would be represented, Rogge added that some new youth-oriented sports might be introduced at the Games.