Spikes25 Oct 2023

Meet the Athletes' Commission

The World Athletics Athletes' Commission (© World Athletics)

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:

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 term of appointment is generally 4 years, commencing on the appointment by the Council after the election at the World Athletics Championships and expiring 4 years later. The maximum number of terms that an Athlete can serve is 3 (i.e., 12 years).

The importance of athletes to decision-making within World Athletics has been recognised in its governance reform introduced by President Sebastian Coe 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).

The 18 members of the Athletes' Commission are: