IOC Athletes’ Commission to have record number of athletes running for election at Beijing 2022

(Sports news) Seven male and ten female athletes from 17 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) will compete for two vacant seats on the IOC Athletes’ Commission, having been nominated by their respective NOC’s together with their NOC Athletes’ Commission.

Emma Terho, Chair of the IOC AC said “The record number of candidates and global representation are a strong sign that athletes want to play a primary and active role within the Olympic Movement and make their voices heard, which is great. All these candidates bring great value to the athlete community, and will add a new set of skills and expertise to the IOC Athletes’ Commission no matter who will be elected.”

Current IOC AC member Hayley Wickenheiser (CAN) will be replaced by the elected athletes after finishing her term at the end of Beijing 2022. The vacancy caused by Ole Einar Bjørndalen (NOR)’s resignation from the IOC AC in 2016 will also be filled. Athletes competing at Beijing 2022 can vote for their representatives in the Olympic Villages from 27th January until 16th February 2022.

The IOC AC’s mission is to ensure that the athletes’ viewpoint remains at the heart of Olympic movement decisions. The commission has 23 members (12 members directly elected by their peers and a maximum of 11 appointed) serving from a term of 8 years. Elections are held before every edition of the Olympic Games with four members chosen at the Summer Games while two are chosen at the Winter Games. 

The IOC President in consultation with the IOC AC Chair makes the appointments to ensure there is a balance between gender, regions and sports. The Commission members also elect the Chair and Vice-Chair and are required to be elected members of the AC. In addition, the chairs of the five NOC Continental Association Athletes’ Commissions, plus a representative from the Athletes’ Council of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and one from the World Olympians Association, take part in the work of the Commission as liaisons, to maximise engagement with the global athlete community.

Also read: IOC would hope for more consultation and clarity regarding FIFA’s World Cup plans

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