Canada has new head for Olympic body

David Shoemaker’s inside knowledge of Beijing should be an asset for Canadian athletes competing there in 2022.

Shoemaker, named chief executive of the Canadian Olympic Committee on Tuesday, spent almost a decade based in Beijing as CEO of NBA China and also in a prior post with the Women’s Tennis Association.

Beijing is hosting the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. Shoemaker is fluent in Mandarin.

The 47-year-old from Ottawa acknowledged his sports experience in Asia may have been a factor in earning the COC position

Among the COC’S mandates are preparing athletes for Games environments and looking after their needs on the ground during the Olympics.

“I spent a lot of time working with the Chinese government and some provincial governments and sports bureaus,” Shoemaker said.

Shoemaker replaced interim CEO Robin Brudner, who stepped in for Chris Overholt when he departed for the Overwatch esports league in September. Shoemaker starts his new job Jan. 7.

Shoemaker was NBA China’s CEO for seven years until he and his family moved to Toronto earlier this year. He played a role in negotiating television and digital media contracts within China for the NBA. Shoemaker formed a partnership with China’s ministry of education to promote basketball in schools.

The NBA played a dozen games in China during his tenure.

Shoemaker met his wife Jennifer, a Toronto native, in Beijing, where she was a commentator for Chinese Central Television.

Preparing Canada for the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, and 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo will be Shoemaker’s immediate priorities.

But he also expects to encourage Canadian cities to bid for future Olympics.