(ATR) The Republic of Montenegro is about to become the 204th national Olympic committee, following approval of the IOC Executive Board meeting in Lausanne.

Montenegro Set to Join IOC

(ATR) The Republic of Montenegro is about to become the 204th national Olympic committee, following approval of the IOC Executive Board meeting in Lausanne.

The Balkan state -- population: 630,450 -- has fulfilled all the conditions and criteria to be recognized by the IOC, spokeswoman Giselle Davies announced at a at a press briefing.

The IOC will formally vote Montenegro into the Olympic family at the July IOC Session in Guatemala City.

The move marks a new era in the development of a country with a troubled recent past of war and simmering political tensions with its neighboring countries.

After the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia, the two republics of Montenegro and Serbia formed the state of Serbia and Montenegro.

Montenegro voted for independence at a referendum held on May 21, 2006. It was admitted to the UN as the 192nd member state a month later.

Major international federations such as volleyball, football athletics and basketball quickly followed with recognition of sports from the new country.

Ancient Films and Photos Go Digital

The IOC is investing $20 million in restoration of its oldest film and photo archives at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.

The five-year project will restore 2,000 hours hrs of films and moving images and digitally enhance another 430 hours.

"This is the IOC''s heritage. It will be

The oldest films and photos in the Olympic Museum will be transferred to digital media over the next five years.

used for promotional purposes to communicate Olympic values," says spokeswoman Giselle Davies.

Senegal Lock on IOC Ethics Commission Chair

IOC member Youssoupha Ndiaye, a former sports minister and ex-president of the Supreme Court in Senegal, is the new chair of the IOC''s Ethics Commission.

He replaces his Senegalese compatriot, Judge Keba Mbaye, who died last month. The retired IOC member had headed the panel since 1999.

Ndiaye, an IOC member since 2002, has held a number of high-profile sports administrative roles in Senegal over the last 27 years. He is also currently a member of the IOC''s Sport and Environment Commission.

The IOC also confirmed Great Britain''s Craig Reedie to succeed Chiharu Igaya, filling the other vacant seat on the commission that is marked for an IOC member.

Igaya stepped down from the commission to avoid conflict of interest over his role as a member of the 2016 Tokyo bid committee.

Reedie, a former chairman of the British Olympic Association and a key figure in London''s successful 2012 bid team, has been an IOC member since 1994.

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