WOA supports new IOC Athletes’ Commission strategy

15 | 9 | 2017

World Olympians Association has welcomed the launch of the new International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission strategy All In and is looking forward to working closely with the IOC Athletes’ Commission and its national counterparts to make this initiative a huge success.

The strategy, which was approved at the IOC Executive Board meeting in Lima, Peru on Monday, lays out the future vision of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, detailing its plans to strengthen support for athletes to succeed on and off the field of play.

The IOC Athletes’ Commission serves as a link between athletes and the IOC, acting as a representative body for athletes to ensure that their voices are heard at the heart of the Olympic Movement.

The new strategy sets out to:

  • Empower athlete participation in Olympic Movement decision-making processes by developing and supporting a worldwide network of effective Athletes’ Commissions
  • Support athlete development in their sporting and non-sporting careers by equipping athletes with the tools they need
  • Promote athlete inclusion in Olympic Movement decision-making by highlighting the positive impact athlete inclusion has on decision-making bodies
  • Encourage athlete representation across the Olympic Movement by ensuring athletes’ viewpoints are represented within all relevant Olympic stakeholder governance structures.

“Through Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC has significantly strengthened its support to athletes, and it is now our aim to build upon this and the great work of former IOC Athletes’ Commissions”, said, IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair Angela Ruggiero.

“As the leading elected athlete representatives within the Olympic Movement, we want to lead by example and provide a guiding reference for other Athletes’ Commissions. To do this successfully, we must be all in.

“As the IOC Athletes’ Commission, we are ready to engage with all athletes across the world, ensuring that their voice is heard and opinion listened to. Similarly, we must engage with all of the Olympic Movement stakeholders, ensuring that the athletes’ view is heard on all relevant matters.”

Speaking from the IOC Session in Lima, WOA President, Joël Bouzou, said:

“World Olympians Association fully supports the aims and ambition of the IOC Athletes’ Commission’s future strategy and we look forward to working closely with our colleagues in the IOC to help support its implementation.

“We agree that athletes are the heart of the Olympian Movement and should be empowered and supported to succeed beyond the field of play. We also believe in the importance of athlete representation at all levels of sport and will continue to promote this message through our work worldwide.”

You can read further details about the IOC Athletes’ Commission’s new strategy here.