About the World Athletics Athletes' Commission
The Athletes’ Commission is part of World Athletics’ decision-making process. It advises the Council on the athletes’ perspective(s) and serves as a link between the athletes and World Athletics.
The Athletes’ Commission is comprised of up to 18 members as follows:
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- 12 members who are elected by their peers;
- Up to 6 other members, who are nominated by Member Federations and appointed by the Council.
Of the 12 elected members, 6 are elected at each World Athletics Championships, so there is an election of 6 athletes every 2 years.
The importance of athletes to decision-making within World Athletics has been recognised in its governance reform in 2016. Since 2019, the Chairperson and one other member of the Athletes’ Commission are full voting members of the World Athletics Council. The Athletes currently holding these positions on Council are Dame Valerie Adams (NZL, as Chair) and Matthew Hughes (CAN, as Deputy Chair).
Since 2020, SPIKES has become the public-facing platform for the Athletes' Commission where useful information for athletes as well as inspiring stories are shared. By athletes, for athletes.
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