ROSLYN MORRIS / AIPS: Anthony Edgar has announced his retirement after 18 years at the International Olympic Committee as head of media operations and chair of the IOC press committee only six months ahead of the Tokyo Games.
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Edgar said: “After 18 years I am leaving the IOC taking the opportunity of an early retirement to return to Sydney to be with my ailing father and my children.”
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Along with journalists and photographers alike, he has run the gauntlet of the digital age and the introduction of what he refers to as “the epoch of change”.
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He added: “Facebook, Twitter and the iPhone where each launched over the next 40 months of my starting at the IOC, ushering in a new social, digital and mobile future, triggering tumultuous change globally that would turn the media landscape upside down, impacting how sport would be consumed, broadcast and reported on in the future.
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“To have been in a leadership position during these turbulent times and to work hand-in-hand with the international news agencies and news networks to navigate a course forward will stay as one of my fondest of memories.”
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AIPS president Gianni Merlo said: “Anthony has always devoted his time to solving problems faced by the media, particularly in light of the ever-increasing demands on journalists and photographers in this digital age.
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“At every event he has been helpful and supportive and gave AIPS the opportunity to seek the best solution for working journalists and photographers.
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“When AIPS took the fight to the IOC for WiFi free of charge to all media attending the Olympic Games Anthony listened carefully to our concerns and with his support WiFi was provided free of charge in all media areas for the first time at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.”
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