IAF gathers over 400 athlete representatives in Lausanne
More than 400 athlete representatives gathered for two days in Lausanne (SUI) for the 12th edition of the International Athletes Forum (IAF), hosted by the International Olympic Committee Athletes Commission. Forrester Osei, Chair of the IWF Athletes Commission was also in the Olympic capital to discuss many important topics related to the protagonists of the sports movement. Forrester Osei (IWF Athletes Commission Chair) between IOC President-Elect Kirsty Coventry and IOC President Thomas Bach Items on the agenda included the Olympic Solidarity development programmes in the five continents, the support through the Worldwide Olympic Partners (TOP), the Athlete365 programme (reaching now over 200’000 Olympians, Paralympians, and respective entourage members), the career transition strategies put in place to ensure a smooth retirement from the competition, the focus on clean sport and athlete safeguarding, the mental health challenges, the athletes' representation throughout the sports movement (namely within International Federations and National Olympic Committees), the power of communication and the digital possibilities related to the use of social media channels, and the discussions around the Athletes’ Rights and Responsibilities Declaration. Forrester Osei promoting clean sport with Cyrille Tchatchet II (IWF Athletes Commission and WADA Athletes Council Member) “It was a great Forum, allowing a lot of interaction and sharing of experiences around very important topics. It was also unexpectedly amazing to see that despite the differences among all our sports, we all face the same issues and challenges. Having this gathering, we can find solutions among ourselves,” considered Mr Osei. “I was also quite happy to see our younger generation of lifters so involved and so well represented in this Forum. By leading this kind of initiative, the IOC clearly makes our young athletes feel they are important in driving the future of our sports,” added the IWF Athletes Commission Chair. From left to right: Kady Kanouté Tounkara (WADA Education Committee Member), Pau Gasol (IOC Athletes Commission Member), Emma Terho (IOC Athletes Commission Chair), and Forrester Osei The 2025 IAF (the Forum is organised every two years) was opened by the IOC President Thomas Bach and IOC President-Elect Kirsty Coventry. “We see a world which is becoming more and more divided within societies and among societies. Sport is about unifying, is about solidarity. And solidarity means more than respect: it means that you not only respect each other but help each other. We are standing against hate, divisions, and growing inequalities. We are about solidarity, peace, and helping each other. This is why we have to be even more determined, outspoken, and also to be extremely consistent in what we are doing,” said Mr Bach. Forrester Osei with legendary five-time Olympic champion from Cuba Mijain Lopez (wrestling) Less than two weeks before the end of his presidency, attendees at the Forum paid an emotional tribute to the IOC President, who was in 1981 one of the founding members of the first-ever IOC Athletes Commission. The words of Ms Coventry were also inspirational: “We play an important role, whether it is on the global stage or at home in our community. As athletes, we are all ambassadors. We are all role models. In order for us to continue to help inspire a younger generation, we need to ensure that we continue to make good decisions for our athletes, to ensure that we create an incredible platform which is the Olympic Games for all of our athletes to succeed, and to be able to leverage those Games for themselves and their communities and in their sports. As athletes, we need to focus on spreading the Olympic values of friendship, excellence, and respect. Those three values connect all of us.” From left to right: Richard Patterson (NZL, former Olympian in weightlifting), Ajah Lolo Pritchard (weightlifter, representing the National Olympic Committee of Vanuatu), Forrester Osei, and Cyrille Tchatchet II IOC Athletes Commission Chair Emma Terho summarised the outcome of the Forum: “This year’s main takeaways have been the importance of athlete support - on an individual level, at the athlete commission level, and in providing resources that help athletes use their platforms to champion social causes that matter to them.” Other IWF representatives in the Forum included Cyrille Tchatchet II, as WADA Athletes Council member (he is also member of the IWF Athletes Commission), and Timea Horvath, Development & Education manager. IWF Communications
