Namibia's former sprinting star Frankie Fredericks on Tuesday was elected chairman of the Athletes Commission of the International Olympic Committee.

The 40-year-old Fredericks succeeds Ukrainian pole valut great Sergey Bubka, whose term has expired. Fredericks will serve a two-year term.

Fredericks won the men's 200m title at the 1993 world championships. He also grabbed silver medals in the 100m and 200m at both the 1992 and 1996 Olympics.

(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2008)