Brian Cookson

Michael Brian Cookson (OBE; born June 22, 1951 in Preston, Lancashire ) is a British sports official. Since September 2013 he has been President of the International Cycling Union Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI ); previously he was 1996-2013 President of the British Cycling Federation British Cycling.

Career as a functionary

Since 1969, Brian Cookson was involved in the organization of cycling. From 1981 to 1985 he was secretary of league road racing, 1984-1987 League Vice President and 1993-1997 League President. From 1984 to 1993 he served in various committees of the British Cycling Federation, the predecessor Association of British Cycling, active. Since 1996 he has been President of the Association. Under his presidency to consolidate the finances of the nearly insolvent association succeeded. Since 1996 he is also representative of cycling in the British Olympic Association.

1986 Cookson qualified as UCI commissioner and was in many big races as a competition judge actively, including at the Tour de France, the Milk Race, the International Peace speed and with the stage race in Australia, South Africa, Germany, Spain and France. He also worked for several world cycling championships and the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.

2009 Brian Cookson was elected to the Management Committee of the International Cycling Union UCI, was 2009-2011 President of the Commission for cross-country race and since 2011 president of the road cycling Commission. He is also a board member of the British Olympic Society.

As president of the UCI road cycling Cookson Commission was criticized by the British driver, world champion and Olympic champion Nicole Cooke at her resignation in January 2013. The Commission had rejected under Cookson line to set a minimum salary for female cyclists as in male athletes. Other riders complained Cookson's lack of commitment to women's cycling on the road.

On June 4, 2013 Cookson announced that he may run as opposition candidate for outgoing President Pat McQuaid in the election for President of the UCI. On the occasion of his candidacy presented Brian Cookson, a manifesto under the heading Restoring Trust, Leading Change online. The key sentence of the manifesto reads: "The UCI must take the steps Necessary to restore cycling 's and its own credibility, in particulare in relation to the public perception of cycling 's anti -doping measures and current leadership. " (Eng. " must UCI take action to restore the credibility of cycling and the Association, particularly in terms of the public perception of anti-doping measures and thereby leading role of cycling. " ) the UCI stand in this election at a " crossroads, "said Cookson.

The election took place during the Road World Championships in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, on 27 September 2013. 24 of 42 votes accounted for Cookson, 18 on its competitors McQuaid, who had stood for election, although that had been contrary to the regulations of the UCI. McQuaid should have been nominated by his Irish homeland Association, which he had refused. Instead, he was nominated by Thailand, Morocco and Switzerland, where the Swiss Federation Swiss Cycling withdrew the nomination after the deadline again. From anger over this decision was the then President of the Swiss Association, Richard Chassot, resigned after one year term of office. After hours of legal discussions about the legality of McQuaids candidacy Cookson had finally " unnerved " prompted choice and this decision for themselves.

Cookson as cyclists

In his youth, Brian Cookson was himself active as a cyclist on road, track, cyclo-cross and mountain bike in the race. In 1971 he won the championship of the road Lakeland Division.

In later years, as a cyclist at Cookson took several cycling competitions, including the L' Etape du Tour, an everyman's race, in which a stage of the Tour de France is completed, and the Fred Whitton Challenge. In 2011 he sailed the Pyrenees from coast to coast, 2012, he competed in the National Masters Cycling Championships.

Honor

2006 Brian Cookson received the highest honor of his association, a gold plaque. 2008 Brian Cookson was awarded the Order of the British Empire. In 2009 he became an honorary doctorate from the University of Central Lancashire, as it has wide-ranging commitment to this university.

Professional and family

1973 joined Brian Cookson from studying as a landscape architect at Manchester Polytechnic and worked as such as well as a city planner. From 2004 until his retirement in 2013 he was Assistant Secretary of the Pendle Borough Council.

Cookson is married, has three children and lives in Lancashire.