Athletes’ Commission Election 2017

Dear fellow athletes. My name is Kim Collins from St Kitts and Nevis. I have been involved in track and field for over twenty years. After competing in about 10 World Championships in Athletics, I am more than prepared and excited to further help the sport by helping the athletes. As an elected member of the IAAF Athletes’ Commission, I will work diligently to ensure fair treatment for all in the interest of sportsmanship. I think that Athletics as an individual sport needs to better promote the individuals in order to boost the sport. My goal is to inform and educate athletes on the benefits of being involved in the sport of Athletics. Throughout my experience racing from Linford Christie to Donovan Bailey, Maurice Green, Justin Gatlin to Usain Bolt, I have seen it all. Now I would like to help all achieve their goals on and off the track.

Thank you in advance.

I am passionate about Athletics and helping athletes achieve a united voice.

Through my directorship and in my role as Athlete Representative at Athletics Canada and in my role on the Canadian Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission, I have developed strong skills in liaising, advocacy and stakeholder-management – these make me a suitable candidate to assist the IAAF Athletes’ Commission advance and represent athletes’ interest in key decisions within the international federation, particularly given the current landscape in Athletics.

If given the opportunity to work with the IAAF Athletes’ Commission, I feel that my education and expertise would positively contribute to its role of presenting athletes’ perspectives on policy creation and program decisions in relation to the Athletics movement.

Having been involved on the IAAF Governance Review Forum, I am acutely aware of the need for athlete engagement and strong leadership when it comes to key decisions that affect our sport. I would like to see the IAAF Athletes’ Commission take an active role in engaging with the IAAF leadership to make sure the athletes’ voice is at the center of every key decisions affecting the future of our sport. The IAAF Athletes’ Commission answers to the athletes and not the international federation; therefore, I would like to see stronger engagement with its primary stakeholders, the athletes, to make sure that their views and needs are properly considered and communicated.

Athletics has suffered greatly with drugs problems recently. This affects not only the good reputations of the sport of Athletics and the Federations but impacts also each and every Athlete. This is a very important area to be worked on. At the same time the marketability and attractiveness of Athletics has decreased in recent years. Both situations are extremely dangerous for us Athletes; the fight is on against the dopers and the cheaters. Now it is time to fight also for attention, for us to show everyone our pride in ourselves and our sport.

Over the last 10 years of my career, I have seen how the Athletics world has disintegrated. I would like to see the Athletics events great again, greater than ever. To achieve this goal we need to be strong and work as one. Now that 2 members of the Athletes’ Commission will soon sit on the IAAF Council we have the biggest opportunity to be a part of IAAF Reform and create a new, better future for all of us.

I would love to be your voice. It is our time.

I am in our sports from my basic school days on, following this journey to the top of the Olympic podium. It was more than my own passion for the diversity of athletics that motivated me to follow the footsteps of my role models. I experienced a lot of help and understanding from a whole sports structure in my hometown and country becoming the athlete and character I am now. Looking back to the days when I was a young talent, having fun in the sport with my friends, drives me to get more young kids interested in our sport. For me a good balance of marketing, innovative presentation and support of kids programs are the main stands for a bright future of our sport. Showing young talents and all fans out there that we play fair, respectful and clean on the top level is the most important requirement for all work that follows in the future.

I would really appreciate your support so I can be one more athlete helping the members of the IAAF Athletes’ Commission in the future. That work in the Commission helps us all to make our voice heard– the voice of the athletes count in future decisions about our lovely sport.

I believe we athletes are at the very heart of our sports. The emotions we go through, our behaviour on the track, daily dedication, struggles, beliefs, knowledge, fears, tears, motivation, inspiration, make us what we are. It is very important to share them with others – fans, present and future athletes and all those who are in some way connected to sports. In order for them to understand us, our sport and believe in the values we represent. This is only possible if we communicate and connect effectively. We have to express our needs in order to assure the best possible conditions for us during our career and for our life after we retire as athletes.

I am full of gratitude for what my sport has given me. It is our obligation as athletes to give back to the sport that has made us. Our stories can inspire people and perhaps change their lives in some ways.

We need to speak if we want to be heard. We need to think beyond ourselves, our performances, our needs – we have to think about our sport.

Our sport has faced a lot in the last few years – doping scandals, corruption, losing fan base, sponsors walking away. All this has affected us directly and indirectly.

But there are enough signs that our sport still has the strength to remain the queen of all sports. London 2017 tickets were completely sold out months in advance – which is a sign that people believe in us and our sport. At grass-root level athletics remains as strong a sport as any. We need to take this strength of the base-level to the highest level of commercial success, which will only make life for us athletes easier and better in the long-run.

We need to join forces and communicate effectively within our sport – with decision-makers and leaders of our sport, as well as fans, sponsors and media. Engage with fans at individual level and collectively.

If voted in by you my fellow athletes – I will take your message in a constructive way to the highest level and work towards strengthening our sport. We will strive together for a better future for us and our sport.

I want to be part of this era of leading the change in our sport, I commit to promote and serve our sport in the best possible way I can.

I would like to be a member of the IAAF Athletes’ Commission as I believe I can make a difference on behalf of athletes having competed myself (for the most part of a seventeen year career) and now working within our sport in Queensland, Australia.

I feel as an athletics coach and administrator in my current work roles here in Australia (working for Queensland Athletics and Brisbane Girls Grammar school), that I see Athletics from a grass roots level and feel I am in touch with what people from our part of the world would like and  therefore can act as their voice accordingly. I am a great communicator and feel I can aptly express my opinion within committee meetings and be able to listen and take in other points of views within these meetings. So that all members can work well together to find the best outcome for athletics and thoroughly discuss all angles (for and against).

As a former elite athlete (retired in 2013) I have had and still have a real passion for the sport. I continue this passion now by helping to mentor athletes when I can  within prominent elite middle distance groups here in Australia, as well as forming my own group here in Brisbane for sub elite athletes ( aged 18-25 years) who are not currently supported by any funding or support system here in Australia. Many of these athletes could be world class, yet are at that age where they truly need help from someone professional and invested in their development. I also work with a lot of people at the recreational running level through my paid job at Queensland Athletics and take our elite Queensland teams to National Championships as well as travelling with an Australian national team in 2016. I feel still being in touch work-wise with athletics here in Australia closely (Queensland Athletics and Athletics Australia) further enhances my application for this role and to actively express the views of the athletes of this continent.

Thank you for considering my application, I do feel that I would be a great addition to the IAAF Athletes’ Commission if elected, as I love to contribute to our great sport and this would only further enhance my opportunity to do so.

I feel very excited and at the same time committed with the nomination of my Federation to be part of the IAAF Athletes’ Commission.

Should I be elected my objective is to work to support and to promote the defense of the rights of the athletes in all the environments of their lives, in sport but also in their personal and professionals lives.

I commit to work to elevate the prestige of our sport every day, to be a tenacious defender of fair play and to fight against any manifestation that takes to the use of forbidden substances or any other doping form that not only affects and deceives the sport results but rather it damages the physical and mental health of the athletes.

From this Commission and in all the tribunes in which we have the opportunity to express ourselves I intend to work to defend the improvement of the conditions of development of Athletics in all the geographical areas, in particular in Latin America and the Caribbean where to elevate the preparation level and competitiveness of the region will contribute bigger benefits of Athletics in multi-sport events.

It is also my commitment to work to improve the conditions of life and the athletes’ training from early ages and to guarantee that whilst they practice their sport they also prepare for their future lives, after sport.

In many regions of the world athletes face a variety of obstacles that go against the achievement of their sport dreams and hinder them in the development of their daily life. As such, the Athletes’ Commission will work strongly to support them in their determination to overcome these obstacles.

These goals cannot be achieved alone but thanks to the team work of the Commission. For me, it will be a pleasure to work with the current members and to learn from their experiences.

I am a candidate for the IAAF Athletes Commission firstly, because I believe that my experience as an Olympic level athlete means that I can help the Commission to find ways to improve the whole Sports Structure and create better training conditions for athletes during their Sports careers.

Secondly, I can assist the current athletes in the performance of their sporting activities.

Finally, I believe that I can find solutions so that athletes do not feel lost after finishing their Sports Career and can find solutions to develop their next stage of their life.

I am a current member and the Chairperson of the IAAF Athletes’ Commission. Since I was elected Chairperson, the Athletes’ Commission has become very active and effective in getting the athletes’ voice heard in the IAAF and we have achieved a lot in terms of protecting every clean athlete, current ones and retired ones, and their rights.

In my opinion, it is important that we capitalize upon the opportunity that we have been given by IAAF President Lord Sebastian Coe and do our utmost to put the athletes, their rights and their opinions at the center of the decision making process of our sport.

If you put your faith in me, I pledge to do all I can in my future work to strengthen the athletes’ voice and role in the decision making process and day-to-day running of the IAAF and our sport. I will follow all the basic principles of equality of athletes and equality of athletics events. I believe that all athletes must have equal possibilities and opportunity to compete, achieve their goals and earn money.

My vision is for the Athletes to have a representative on every commission or working group within the IAAF, making sure the most important voice in Athletics will be heard and represented and all decisions will be in line with the needs, expectations and rights of athletes.

My vision is to improve the prize money structure to ensure that a wider range of athletes are rewarded and supported. More athletes should be able to earn money from athletics to support their training and lives. It is important that every athlete has the opportunity to compete on a level playing field and achieve fair results. At the same time, athletes have to be able to make money, and market themselves in order to finance their training programs and make a decent living from their hard work and talent.

I will also focus on dual career programs for athletes, which should allow them to combine their education with training.  For athletes who are at the end of their career, there should be a program to better support a smooth transition from their career in athletics to a second career, including special attention given to psychological support initiatives.

I stand for both equality and integrity and will work closely with the new IAAF AIU to ensure they help all athletes to properly understand the rules and the consequences of not following them so athletes have greater control of their futures.

Finally I promise to work on strengthening the coach-athlete relationship through better provision of information and better links, as well as IAAF High performance camps for the athletes. I also pledge to better support and facilitate the choice of Athlete Manager and work hard to ensure that athletes are not manipulated.

Dear athletic partner. We are the heart of athletics and its values. Working together with the IAAF through the Athletes Commission we have a tool that we must use as real heroes of this sport. Our mission is to show the world our work on the track but also to develop the image and legacy of athletics for the future generations. We must do it for all those people who work towards our development, as well as for all our fans, family and friends; they believe in us. In the twenty-first century our work does not end on the track, grass or road – in this competitive world we have to take a step forward to improve the athletic environment. We are in a world where we compete with our rivals as well as against other sports. The IAAF needs our help to be the leading global sport’s governing body and to ensure that athletics, the image of clean sport, its audience, reputation and resources grow. Our work and my goal if I gain your trust as a representative of athletes is to improve the rights of athletes, the image of athletics and the IAAF reputation as the best governing body. I want to work for this sport that I love, to work with the IAAF Athletes’ Commission to take into account the needs of the stars, but also of the athletes who will never reach gold, to promote a clean and fair sport, to educate future generations of athletes. I have been married to athletics for 25 years, I have never been the best but I have always worked for it and for a sport that gives me what I deserve on the track, respecting the rights of my rivals and friends. Today my job is to be your voice and ears – let’s change the world with our sport.

For almost 20 years my life was dedicated to the world of Athletics. After a long sports career in 400m hurdles with a couple of successes and a lot of failures, I decided that I should remain in the sport that I love so much from a different position. I have the honor and the responsibility to be one of the athletes’ voices in European Athletics as a member from 2015 and recently Chairman of the European Athletics Athletes Commission. In my experience, Athletes are not just one more stakeholder in the sports system, but the heart of that system and they should be a key part of the decision-making process in all sport governing bodies. We must be present, open minded and able to hear, to discuss and help the correct decision making procedures. As an Area Athletes representative for Europe last year at the IAAF Constitution Reforms Forum in Amsterdam, I fully supported the proposed IAAF Constitution changes. One of the big steps forward was that Athletes representatives should have an ex-officio seat in the IAAF Council table. After that big change the European Athletics Council recently took a similar decision and now I am an ex-officio Council (non-Voting) member.

After my first meeting in the EA Council I recognized the difficulties and problems that our family has had the last years. Our sport is facing a lot of challenges. We must protect the athletes’ rights and efforts. Now is the time to have a clear information about the problems and the different projects regarding the future of our sport. We need to be part of the proposed solution for every challenge. Athletes’ Commission should lead and secure the next steps and with the correct communication have the best available feedback. That is why I am asking you to support my effort and vote for me for the IAAF Athletes’ Commission. I believe that with the help of the other existing members and in addition with the new fellow candidates we can lead together this new era of our sport.

I wish the best to all of you and thank you for your support.

One year before Rio 2016 there was a risk that I would not be able to return to the sport because of a serious back injury. However, I was able to get over the injury and return to the sport that I love. This was a very difficult period for me. If I am elected to be on the IAAF Athletes’ Commission, I would like to give attention to the creation of a program to support top athletes who – due to injuries – have to quit training and competing for long periods, but who wish to return to the sport after recovering.

I also consider it necessary to pay closer attention to the support of young athletes, helping them to adapt to competing with the adults, from a psychological point of view but also in terms of practical matters (anti-doping rules, work with managers etc.).

The IAAF Athletes’ Commission exists not only to support athletes but also to convey their opinion and needs to management. Often when making decisions management focuses on very successful, wealthy countries, or on the contrary on poorer countries. Ukraine, like many others, is somewhere in the middle. Our athletes achieve great success in sport, but taking into consideration the existing economic crisis in the country, there are a lot of problems associated with their preparation. I consider it essential through the Athletes’ Commission to clarify the needs and the real state of affairs of athletes from such countries, who are achieving success as athletes but are from poorer, economically challenged areas of the world.

In applying for a position on the IAAF Athletes’ Commission, I pledge to follow through on the following objectives:

–  To play an active role in sports structures to ensure that the Athletes’ voice is heard.

–  To share experience and knowledge with athletes from all continents and to teach them all to do likewise.

• To contribute to talent development and detection programs in my own country and globally.
• To promote the practice and development of female athletics in the most disadvantaged rural areas and communities around the world.
• To fully fulfil my role as an influential role model and locomotive for change in Tunisian women’s sport.
• To support and help the young people in their tough struggle to reach the highest level.
• To work hard and demand changes to strengthen the preventative component (deterrence/education/investigation) of the fight against doping in sport and to promote better education of athletes.
• To help educate athletes about their future career paths and sporting reconversion.
• To represent the Athletes’ Voice, rights and needs at all levels.

My name is Wang Yu and I wish to become a member of the IAAF Athletes’ Commission to speak for athletes like me and work for athletics that I love. I am a professional High Jumper and a full- time student in Tsinghua University for my master degree. I run for this position to do something meaningful for my country and athletes all over the world.

I think I have my own advantages. First because I am an elite high jumper. My personal best is 2.33m, the third best in China after Zhu’s 2.39m, 1984 and Zhang’s 2.38m, 2015. I just won a silver medal in IAAF Diamond League Shanghai. And I have won lots of national champions and participated in several IAAF World Championships and the Olympic Games in Rio, 2016. As an athlete, I am one of the top Chinese athletes and working hard to be much better in the future. On the other hand I am a graduate student in School of Social Science of Tsinghua University, the best university in China. I’ve got lots of society and economics knowledge and have some internship experiences in the sports administration department. So I am not only a professional athlete but also an experienced and high-educated student. With my own ability and some help of my alumni and friends, I believe I can make benefits to the world track & field.

If I have the honor to be a member of the IAAF Athletes’ Commission, I have the chance to achieve my lifelong-goal. I plan to work in the General Administration of Sport in China after retiring from my high jump career in a few years. As an athlete I know exactly what athletes think, what athletes want and what athletes are fighting for. Nowadays in China, track and field did make some influence but not enough. Our citizens just know the high level competitions such as the IAAF World Challenge, the IAAF Diamond League and the IAAF World Championships. But when my teammates or friends take part in some national competitions, there are few audience that I can’t hear any cheer or applause at all. That really hurts me! If I were one of the IAAF Athletes’ Commission I would try best to change these phenomena. I have a plan to organize street competitions in the center of big cities like Beijing. Various athletic competitions in shopping centers and stadiums will both attract spectators if teenagers and adults are all allowed to participate. I will work hard to persuade companies to sponsor us and big TV broadcasters to support. People in China loves athletics stars, what I want to do is to encourage the number of them. One day, I will welcome my foreign friends to China and I will give you the best experience of athletics in China.

If I have the honor to have your support, I will return with my dedication to athletes and our sport.

Athletics is truly my life. I really love what I do and always think about the ways I can improve myself. I have fought injuries and bad conditions many times in my career. Despite all of this, I never thought about quitting, I always want to solve the problems I face and I have a lot of experience that may help others in the future. Since my first appearance at the World Youth Championships I wanted to be part of the Athletics family.

Athletics is the basis of many sports. It is about performance and tradition, and we need to keep it that way. All the 47 Olympic events are individually important, as well as a whole. Change is inevitable but we need to be careful with decisions and keep the core values of our sport. I see big opportunities already in how we communicate these changes. However the conditions need to be improved and made more athlete-centered. Only if all the disciplines are represented can we keep everyone’s interests in focus. Some modification that only we athletes know can make the competitions more enjoyable for the spectators and the competitors. We, who know the beauty of this sport, need to find the way to show this to everyone else.

During my business administration studies I wanted to understand how the world works, and sports management helped me to figure out how sport works. My coaching degree gave me a different angle on athletics. With all that education I became eager not only to find out things, but also to improve on them.

As a heptathlete I spent all day at the stadium during competition and after that took the chance to watch all the events live in the stadium. My family also has a passion for athletics. My husband is a world and European medalist in the Decathlon and my father-in-law was the Olympic Hammer Champion in Mexico City.

I believe in Fair Play. Athletics teaches us to respect each other, which is a big virtue. We are not enemies, only rivals. I would like to share my knowledge ad also help others learn from previous mistakes and figure out the best way to excel. I have received a lot from our sport, and now I would like to give back. You can help us to achieve this together if you vote for me. As a heptathlete it is my very nature to represent all the events present in Athletics.