Ahmed El-Demerdash Touny became an IOC Member in 1960 and remained on the Committee until he turned 85-years-old, in 1992, with his resignation officially accepted in 1993. He is best known as one of the founders of the Arab Games. In 1953 El-Demerdash Touny convinced Arab League members that such sporting contests would help with the Arab identity. These were first held in Alexandria, Egypt in July-August 1953, with eight Middle East Arab nations and Indonesia competing. Domestically, he founded Egypt’s gymnastics federation in 1934 and its swimming federation in 1939. From 1937 through 1939 he won several national swimming titles.