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Dutch king-in-waiting to step down from IOC

January 29, 2013 | Modified: January 29, 2013 at 10:17 am
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Photo - FILE - In this Sept. 20, 2011 file photo, Dutch Queen Beatrix, left, Crown Prince Willem Alexander, right, and his wife Princess Maxima, center, wave to wellwishers from the balcony of Royal Palace Noordeinde after the Queen officially opened the new parliamentary year in The Hague, Netherlands. Queen Beatrix announced she is to abdicate in favor of Crown Prince Willem Alexander during a nationally televised speech Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. Beatrix, who turns 75 on Thursday, has ruled the nation of 16 million for more than 32 years and would be succeeded by her eldest son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski, File)
FILE - In this Sept. 20, 2011 file photo, Dutch Queen Beatrix, left, Crown Prince Willem Alexander, right, and his wife Princess Maxima, center, wave to wellwishers from the balcony of Royal Palace Noordeinde after the Queen officially opened the new parliamentary year in The Hague, Netherlands. Queen Beatrix announced she is to abdicate in favor of Crown Prince Willem Alexander during a nationally televised speech Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. Beatrix, who turns 75 on Thursday, has ruled the nation of 16 million for more than 32 years and would be succeeded by her eldest son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski, File)

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Dutch Crown Prince Willem-Alexander will quit the IOC after he becomes king later this year.

The Dutch government said Tuesday that Willem-Alexander has "asked the president of the IOC to relieve him of his duties."

The crown prince, an avid sports fan, has been an International Olympic Committee member since 1998. Known in the IOC as the "Prince of Orange," he currently sits on the marketing commission.

The government says his resignation from the IOC will be effective from the end of 2013. The move would be ratified at the IOC general assembly in Buenos Aires in September.

Often dressed in orange T-shirts or winter jackets, Willem-Alexander has been a regular fixture at the Olympics since joining the IOC.

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