Athletes at the Heart: Welfare, commercial recognition, governance involvement, experience

My manifesto for President of the International Olympic Committee has 5 core pillars of what I would do if I was elected. In this post I go through my Athletes at Heart pillar and why I feel it is so important.

Athletes are the heart and soul of the Games. Without them, there is no Olympic Movement. I stand for Team Athlete, not just those competing now but the thousands who no longer compete but continue to be passionate advocates for Olympic and Paralympic sport.

We need to ensure care and fairness for them at every single stage: before, during, and after their sporting involvement. They want to feel respected and valued. They want their voices heard and acted upon.

I will prioritise athletes’ physical, mental and financial welfare, expand resources and support programmes, with the help of our commercial partners, to address the pressures faced by athletes today and ensure they are better equipped for post competition careers.

Athletes’ financial well-being will also be prioritised, in consultation with all stakeholders, ensuring their contributions are rewarded fairly. There is a disconnect between athletes’ contribution and the recognition they get in return.

I believe financial reward is long overdue and will create shared-value models where athletes benefit from the Games’ commercial success, recognising them as essential partners.

No decision should ever be made on behalf of an athlete or the athletes as a collective group without their input. Their voices must be at the heart of every major decision we make. I will create pathways for athletes to actively contribute to policies that affect their careers and their sports, particularly their Games experiences.