Athletes', coaches' and competition commissions hold joint consultation

The importance of cross-commission collaboration was reinforced when the World Athletics Athletes’ Commission, Coaches’ Commission and Chair of the Competition Commission held their first joint consultation in Monaco last week.

The commissions came together to meet with World Athletics’ Competition and Events department and to discuss several key competition matters including the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27 timetable, providing vital feedback for the Competition Commission.

Other items on the agenda included a review of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship and the World Rankings, as well as discussion on LA28 qualification standards, lane assignments, technical rules and organisational details of the World Athletics Relays.

The group also received a presentation from World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon on the Diamond League.

“For the Competition Commission, this is highly significant,” said Competition Commission Chair Raúl Chapado Serrano. “We often receive feedback, opinions and ideas from a group of athletes – and, separately, from a group of stakeholders – and it is valuable to bring these viewpoints together. This allows the Competition Commission, as well as the Athletes’ Commission and Coaches’ Commission, to understand each other’s thinking and allow the Competition Commission to make fully informed recommendations to Council.

“We must take all stakeholders into account – including member federations, event organisers and athlete representatives – as well as the athletes and coaches themselves, who are the key figures. Evaluating these matters collectively helps us broaden our perspective and identify our shared interests and a common vision.

“Ultimately, this will benefit everyone: it will be better for World Athletics and better for competition. I believe we are moving in the right direction.”

Athletes’ Commission Chair Valerie Adams also welcomed the opportunity to build on this inaugural consultation.

“It's something that we have never done before, so we didn't know what to expect,” she said. 

“What I am proud about is how as members of the Athletes’ Commission we were able to voice our concerns and share our views. I think we were aligned as a group, and that makes me feel incredibly proud. There are benefits to it (the joint consultation) – I’m not sure what it is going to look like going forward but it is definitely something that we should look at finding ways to improve.”

Coaches’ Commission Chair Frank Dick stressed the importance of teamwork and communication.

“We're an individual sport and normally people in individual sports don't think like team players. But the fact is, if you're trying to progress things in life, teamwork is not an option – it's a strategic essential,” he said.

“We often speak to the coaches about the importance of connecting and communicating. And what better way to do it than to bring together people who are totally interdependent, to have them think as a team. So here we have the Athletes’ Commission, the Competition Commission, the Coaches’ Commission all thinking: how can we make our sport even greater than it is?

“When you come together like this, you realise that there are multiple solutions. And if we get this right, we'll make our global sport even greater than it is.”