- More than 400 athlete representatives gathered in Lausanne, Switzerland, for the 12th International Athletes' Forum (IAF). Hosted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission (AC) , athlete representatives from 200 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), 54 International Federations (IFs), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the International Paralympic Committee, Organising Committees for the upcoming Olympic Games and Continental Associations of NOCs, and members of the Athletes' Declaration Steering Committee attended to discuss some of the most pressing athlete-related topics.
"VAN" (Sports Desk - 13.06.2025) :: IOC President Thomas Bach and IOC President-elect Kirsty Coventry had welcomed the participants to the Olympic Capital before they joined for discussions on the final day of the forum.
“We see a world which is becoming more and more divided within societies and among societies. Sport is about unifying, is about solidarity. And solidarity means more than respect: it means that you not only respect each other but help each other. We are standing against hate, divisions, growing inequalities. We are about solidarity, peace and helping each other. This is why we have to be even more determined, outspoken and also to be extremely consistent in what we are doing,” said Bach, an Olympic champion in fencing, in his last Forum appearance as IOC President. As at previous editions of the IAF, athletes were able to ask the President about the topics most important to them, with no subject off limits in a dedicated Q&A session.
“We have to stand strong for these values and have to show through sport and in sport that it is possible to compete with each other. It needs to be done peacefully, in respect of the rules. You, the athletes, are the best ambassadors, the living examples. What you show on the field of play has more effect than any words. You saw that in Paris, where athletes from those countries were all there together even if their countries were at war.”
In a very touching moment, the athletes’ community said goodbye to President Bach, who was a member of the first IOC Athletes’ Commission in 1981, with a highly emotional film including many athlete voices thanking him for his work. This was echoed by the room in a standing ovation.
This Forum was particularly special as IOC President-elect Kirsty Coventry, a two-time Olympic champion in swimming and former IOC AC Chair, was also attending.
She emphasised the role of athletes in the Olympic Movement and society: “We play an important role, whether it is on the global stage or at home in our community. As athletes, we are all ambassadors. We are all role models. (…) In order for us to continue to help inspire a younger generation, we need to ensure that we continue to make good decisions for our athletes, to ensure that we create an incredible platform which is the Olympic Games for all of our athletes to succeed, and to be able to leverage those Games for themselves and their communities and in their sports.”
She called on the participants: “As athletes we need to focus on spreading the Olympic values of friendship, excellence and respect. Those three values connect all of us.”
The Forum allowed athletes to engage in dialogue about the challenges they are facing, and to learn about the support the IOC is offering to strengthen their own athletes’ commissions and athletes individually.
A statement issued by the IOC AC and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Athlete Council addressing the Enhanced Games, saying that they are “a betrayal of everything that we stand for”, was welcomed with a round of applause.
“This Forum was a great inspiration for all of us. It is a hugely important engagement opportunity for the IOC Athletes’ Commission, and we want to thank all the 400 participants for taking the time and making their way to Lausanne. It is so important to meet them in person every two years and to hear directly from them what support they need,” said IOC AC Chair Emma Terho. “This year’s main takeaways have been the importance of athlete support - on an individual level, at the athlete commission level, and in providing resources that help athletes use their platforms to champion social causes that matter to them.
The two-day event resulted in a number of important takeaways across various areas, such as athlete financial support programmes, safe sport, mental health and career transition.
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