The 16th Asian Games, part of the worldwide Olympic movement and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), has honored its international experts of the Games with official credentials and papers recognizing their exceptional contributions to the Olympic movement in China and throughout Asia.

The Asian Games are the second largest sports event in the world after the Summer Olympic Games.

Dr. Victoria Vakulishya, 30, serves as the Associate Professor and Artistic Director of Choir and Principal Conductor of the Xinghai Conservatory of Music. Dr. Vakulishya recently directed China to a gold diploma at the 6th World Choir Games in Shaoxing, the largest choir competition in the world. For the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee, Dr. Vakulishya serves a consultant to the Ceremonies & Cultural Events Department and is working on organizing numerous concerts throughout Guangzhou in the lead-up to the Games later this fall.

Veteran sports marketing expert Jeff Ruffolo, 53, is a three-time Summer Olympic radio commentator (1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens) for Westwood One in New York City. For two years, Mr. Ruffolo served as the Senior Expert for the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad and is currently the Executive Advisor for GAGOC. This is Mr. Ruffolo's second such honor, having received a similar "Honorary Doctorate" by the Beijing Organizing Team for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad.

The letters of appointment, presented by the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee to Dr. Vakulishya and Mr. Ruffolo, are in recognition to their dedication to the Olympic Movement and the forthcoming 16th Asian Games.