The IOC Athletes’ Commission

Strategy

All in
 Contents
IOC Athletes’
Commission Strategy
All In for Athletes and the Olympic Movement 3

Who we are 4–5

Our Strategy for success 6–7

Our Role with Athletes 8–9

Our Role with the Olympic Movement 10–11

How we work 12–13

Measuring our progress 14–15

Contact us 16

2
All In for Athletes
and the Olympic Movement

On behalf of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, I am

delighted to present you with the Strategy that will
guide our work for the coming years. Following up
on the fundamental work led by my predecessor
Angela Ruggiero, we are now fully focused on the
implementation of the Strategy.
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.
As the elected athlete representatives within the Olympic Movement,
we aim to lead by example and provide a guiding reference for other
Athletes’ Commissions.
To do this successfully, we must be All In.
The development of our Strategy has been a collective effort,
which involved Athletes’ Commission members from Continental
Associations, International Federations and many other stakeholders
within the Olympic Movement.
The protection and promotion of clean and fair sport is at the heart
of our work and as athletes ourselves, we know the importance of
competing on a level playing field. We are ready to engage with all
athletes across the world and we will ensure we understand their
perspective and can engage with the entire Olympic Movement to
ensure their voice is part of the decision-making process. We must
ensure clean and fair sport, and this is a philosophy we embed
within all of our responsibilities.
But more than anything, being All In must symbolise our collective
mentality. As athletes, we know that success can only be achieved
by committing ourselves 100%. Together with the Olympic Movement,
we must now show all of this commitment as we turn our Strategy
from paper to practice.
Athletes and the Olympic Movement – All In.

Kirsty Coventry
IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair

3
 Who we are

The IOC Athletes’ Commission represents future,

current and recently retired Olympic athletes.

We have a maximum of 23 members, the majority of whom are elected

by fellow Olympic athletes for a term of eight years. Our elections take
place at every Olympic Games, with four members elected at each
Summer Games, and two at each Winter Games. During this term,
these elected Commission members may also serve as IOC members

23
and our Chair is a member of the IOC Executive Board.
In addition to the elected members, the IOC President can appoint
further Commission members, to ensure a good balance between
regions, gender and sports. Further members from Olympic Movement
stakeholders can be appointed and invited to attend meetings.
We are volunteers, driven by our desire to represent athletes
and support them to succeed on and off the field of play.
Up to 23 members

Majority of
members are Elected for
elected by a term of
fellow Olympic eight years
athletes

Four
members Two elected
elected at at each
each Summer Winter Games
Games

Chair is a
member
of the IOC
Executive
Board

4
Current IOC Athletes’ Commission members:

Kirsty Coventry Danka Bartekova Abhinav Bindra Nadin Dawani Tony Estanguet Daniel Gyurta
(Aquatics, Zimbabwe) (Shooting, Slovakia ) (Shooting, India) (Taekwondo, Jordan) (Canoe, France) (Aquatics, Hungary)
Chair Vice-Chair

Britta Heidemann Stefan Holm Zhang Hong Yelena Isinbaeva Aya Medany Kikkan Randall
(Fencing, Germany) (Athletics, Sweden) (Speed Skating, China) (Athletics, Russia) (Modern Pentathlon, (Cross Country Skiing,
Egypt) United States of America)

Seung-min Ryu Emma Terho James Tomkins, Sarah Walker Hayley

(Table Tennis, (Ice Hockey, Finland) OAM (Cycling, New Zealand) Wickenheiser
South Korea) (Rowing, Australia) (Ice Hockey, Canada)

5
 Our Strategy for success

Our mission is to represent athletes The IOC’s mission is to place athletes at the heart of the Olympic
Movement and Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations further
within the Olympic Movement and support and protect clean and fair sport. We serve as a link
support them to succeed in their between the athletes and the IOC.

sporting and non-sporting careers. In order to achieve this, the IOC Athletes’ Commission has
the leading role with athletes and with the Olympic Movement:

Our Role with Athletes

Our Responsibilities

Empower Athlete Participation Support Athlete Development

in Olympic Movement in their sporting and
decision-making processes. non-sporting careers.

Our Goals

All athlete representatives are All athletes are equipped

empowered through a worldwide with the tools they need
network of effective Athletes’ to develop their sporting and
Commissions. non-sporting careers.

6
 Our Role with the Olympic Movement

Our Responsibilities

Promote Athlete Involvement Ensure Athlete Representation

in decision-making across the in Olympic Movement
Olympic Movement. decision-making.

Our Goals

The value of athlete The viewpoint of

involvement is recognised athletes is represented
within all Olympic Movement in all Olympic Movement
stakeholders. stakeholders.

7
 Our Role with
Empower Athlete Participation
in Olympic Movement
decision-making processes.

Our Goal
All athlete representatives are empowered through
a worldwide network of effective Athletes’ Commissions.

Our Priorities
Strengthen Commission Enhance the resources Increase the facilitation
members’ engagement available to support of virtual and in-person
to support Athletes’ Athletes’ Commissions communication between
Commissions worldwide. in becoming as effective Athletes’ Commissions 
Initiatives: as possible. worldwide.
– 
Dedicate IOC Athletes’ Initiatives: Initiatives:
Commission members to liaise – Inspire Athletes’ Commissions – Host multiple video
with International Federations, in their work, through the conferences per year with
Continental Associations and ‘IOC Guide to Developing an the worldwide network of
other Olympic Movement Effective Athletes’ Commission’. Athletes’ Commissions.
stakeholders.
– Provide a dedicated space – Send periodic digital
– Active participation at on Athlete365 for all Athletes’ updates from the IOC
Continental Athletes’ Commission resources. Athletes’ Commission.
Forums and other Athletes’
Commissions meetings. – Establish a mechanism to – Maximise the scope and
answer athlete queries impact of the bi-annual IOC
– Promote the importance of through Athlete365. International Athletes’ Forum.
administrative support for
Athletes’ Commissions.

8
Athletes
Support Athlete Development
in their sporting and
non-sporting careers.

Our Goal
All athletes are equipped with the tools they need
to develop their sporting and non-sporting careers.

Our Priorities
Support Organising Improve the IOC’s Enhance the resources
Committees and their information flow to available to athletes
Athletes’ Commissions athletes before, during and and collaborate with
to enhance the athletes’ after the Olympic Games. Olympic Solidarity.
experience at the Initiatives: Initiatives:
Olympic Games.
– Engage directly with athletes – Develop key principles
Initiatives: through an enhanced Athlete which outline the rights and
– Develop the Olympic Games Engagement Strategy. responsibilities of athletes.
Guide on the athletes’ – Enhance Athlete365 as the – Implement a new Athlete
experience to empower platform to engage with Career Programme Strategy
Athletes’ Commissions of athletes 365 days of the year. which includes tailoring
the Organising Committees IOC athlete programmes
for the Olympic Games. – Ensure the regular and timely
to the needs of International
communication of information
– Ensure the active participation Federations, National
to support athlete preparation
of IOC Athletes’ Commission Olympic Committees and
for the Olympic Games.
members in Olympic Games Athletes’ Commissions.
and Youth Olympic Games – Deliver Games-time
– Collaborate with Olympic
Evaluation and Coordination activations, including a
Solidarity to enhance the
Commissions. physical space at the
impact of all Olympic Solidarity
Olympic Village, the IOC
– Conduct athlete research programmes for athletes,
Athletes’ Commission
programmes and follow up particularly in relation to
elections, and a dedicated
on the findings at each edition career support.
communication plan.
of the Olympic Games. – Maximise the impact of the
resources available to athletes
by working with Olympic
Movement stakeholders
such as the World
Olympians Association.

9
 Our Role with the
Promote Athlete Involvement
in decision-making across the
Olympic Movement.

Our Goal
The value of athlete involvement is recognised within
all Olympic Movement stakeholders.

Our Priorities
Advocate the benefits Improve the monitoring Increase the visibility
of athlete involvement of athlete contributions of Athletes’ Commissions’
in Olympic Movement and successes. roles and achievements.
decision-making. Initiatives: Initiatives:
Initiatives: – Develop a mechanism – Implement a communication
– Demonstrate the added to track the contributions plan to ensure a strong
value of athlete involvement and successes of the IOC media presence for
through the development of Athletes’ Commission. Athletes’ Commissions.
case studies. – Establish a mechanism to – Raise awareness of the risks
– Engage in speaking events to track the contributions and associated with no athlete
advocate athlete involvement. successes of the Athletes’ representation within Olympic
Commissions worldwide. Movement stakeholders.
– Publish documents (reports,
research papers, etc.) to – Record individual athlete – Provide recognition
support athlete involvement. contributions to the for successful Athletes’
Olympic Movement. Commissions.

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Olympic Movement
Ensure Athlete Representation
in Olympic Movement
decision-making.

Our Goal
The viewpoint of athletes is represented in all
Olympic Movement stakeholders.

Our Priorities
Increase awareness Enhance collaboration Strengthen the input
of the athletes’ viewpoint. with Olympic Movement of the athletes’
Initiatives: stakeholders on key viewpoint in Olympic
issues facing athletes. Movement decisions.
– Conduct surveys amongst
athletes and follow up on Initiatives: Initiatives:
their outcomes. – Engage regularly with – Establish a system to capture
– Explore innovative mechanisms stakeholders through in-person the athletes’ viewpoint
to gather the athletes’ viewpoint. and virtual interactions. accurately before input is given.

– Communicate the athletes’ – Create an alliance of – Ensure active representation

viewpoint with relevant Olympic all Olympic Movement of IOC Athletes’ Commission
Movement stakeholders. stakeholders to develop members on all relevant IOC
governance structures that Commissions, Association of
support athlete representation. National Olympic Committees,
World Anti-Doping Agency,
– Enhance cooperation with
World Olympians Association
stakeholders protecting
and other stakeholders.
clean athletes.
– Develop a follow-up system
that outlines the measures
taken to achieve increased
athlete representation.

11
 How we work

All IOC Athletes’ Commission members work actively on the fulfilment of

our priorities across all areas of Commission responsibility, according to their
knowledge, background, personal interest, and needs of the Commission.
We have a representative on the IOC Executive Board and the majority of
IOC Commissions as well as on various Olympic Movement stakeholders.

We recognise the importance of communication in all aspects Our structure is defined by our Strategy. We are led by our
of our work and we work hard to ensure that this is efficient Chair, who is supported by the Vice-Chair, and they oversee
and effective with all of these stakeholders. the Commission’s role.
We also provide practical support to athletes and a worldwide Each of the four responsibilities laid out in our Strategy is
network of Athletes’ Commissions. Every two years, our IOC coordinated by a Commission member. As the Strategy Lead,
International Athletes’ Forum brings together athletes and the this person oversees the progress made and reports back to
network of Athletes’ Commissions. the Chair and Vice-Chair on a regular basis.

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 Chair

Vice-Chair

Empower Athlete Support Athlete Promote Athlete Ensure Athlete

Participation Development Involvement Representation
in Olympic Movement in decision-making
in their sporting and in Olympic Movement
decision-making across the Olympic
non-sporting careers. decision-making.
processes. Movement.

Strategy Lead Strategy Lead Strategy Lead Strategy Lead

IOC Athletes’ Commission members

13
 Measuring our progress

With a new Strategy in place, we have a clear focus for our work
over the coming years.

We have the full support from the IOC leadership, and the The measuring system we have developed assesses
best people and the right programmes in place to deliver our progress on three levels:
our Strategy.
Measuring our results: How well are we progressing
1. 
As athletes, we are aware that we will not achieve long-term towards the achievement of our four goals?
success without constantly measuring our progress. It is the Measuring our output: How well are we delivering
2. 
constant strive for improvement and the ability to measure our strategic priorities and do they continue to be
this progress that will be key to the successful delivery of the right strategic priorities?
our Strategy.
3. M
 easuring our input: How well are we optimising
With this structure, we will measure our results, output and our resources to best deliver our priorities?
input with some clear performance indicators. Only that which
To be successful we must listen to and understand athletes
is measured can be managed and, with this measurement
to ensure they are both represented and supported. We will
structure, we aim to keep ourselves on track towards the
only be successful if we are responsive to the athletes’ needs
successful delivery of our Strategy.
and serve them each and every day.

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 Measuring our results: Are we achieving our goals?

All athlete All athletes are The value of The viewpoint

representatives are equipped with athlete involvement of athletes is
empowered through the tools they is recognised represented in all
a worldwide need to develop within all Olympic Olympic Movement
network of their sporting Movement stakeholders.
effective Athletes’ and non-sporting stakeholders.
Commissions. careers.

Measuring our output: Are we achieving our priorities?

 Strengthen Commission Support Organising Advocate the benefits Increase awareness

members’ engagement Committees and their of athlete involvement of the athletes’ viewpoint.
to support Athletes’ Athletes’ Commissions in Olympic Movement
Enhance collaboration
Commissions worldwide. to enhance the athletes’ decision-making.
with Olympic Movement
experience at the
Enhance the resources Improve the monitoring stakeholders on key issues
Olympic Games.
available to support Athletes’ of athlete contributions facing athletes.
Commissions in becoming Improve the IOC’s and successes.
Strengthen the input
as effective as possible. information flow to
Increase the visibility of the athletes’ viewpoint
athletes before, during and
of Athletes’ Commissions’ in Olympic Movement
Increase the after the Olympic Games.
roles and achievements. decisions.
facilitation of virtual and
Enhance the resources
in-person communication
available to athletes
between Athletes’
and collaborate with
Commissions worldwide.
Olympic Solidarity.

Measuring our input: Are we optimising our resources?

15
Contact us:
[email protected] Approved by the
IOC Executive Board
olympic.org/Athlete365 – September 2017