About
The Athletes’ Rights and Responsibilities Declaration (Athletes’ Declaration) is a historic athlete-driven initiative. Developed by athletes and for athletes through a worldwide consultation process; led by a 19-strong athlete representative Steering Committee.
Empower Athletes
The Athletes’ Declaration was developed to benefit Athletes globally. Athletes are at the heart of sport, and we wanted to continue our drive to strengthen support to them by making sure their voice is heard.
Tackle key issues
In collaboration with the athlete community, the project tackles the most relevant issues they face today, including integrity and clean sport, governance and communication, careers and marketing, safeguarding and competition.
Shape the future
This was an unparalleled opportunity to define and address the most important conversations athletes face in sport.
Practise sport and compete without being subject to discrimination on the basis of race, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other immutable status.
Be part of a transparent, fair and clean sporting environment, particularly one that fights against doping and competition manipulation, and provides for transparent judging/refereeing, selection and qualification processes, and appropriate competition schedules, including training schedules at such competitions.
Access general information on athlete and competition-related matters in a timely and clear manner.
Access education on sports-related matters as well as to work or study while actively training and competing, should the athlete choose to do so and where practicable.
Leverage opportunities to generate income in relation to their sporting career, name and likeness, while recognising the intellectual property or other rights, rules of the event and of sports organisations as well as the Olympic Charter.
Fair and equal gender representation.
The protection of mental and physical health, including a safe competition and training environment and protection from abuse and harassment.
Elected athlete representation within sporting organisations of the Olympic Movement.
Report unethical behaviour without fear of retaliation.
Privacy, including protection of personal information.
Freedom of expression.
Due process, including the right to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial panel, the right to request a public hearing and the right to an effective remedy.
Uphold the Olympic values and adhere to the Fundamental Principles of Olympism.
Respect the integrity of sport and compete as a clean athlete, in particular by not doping and not manipulating competitions.
Act in accordance with the IOC Code of Ethics and be encouraged to report unethical behaviour, including instances of doping, competition manipulation, prohibited discrimination and abuse and harassment.
Comply with applicable national laws, and the rules of the qualification processes and competitions, of the sport, and of the relevant sporting organisation, as well as the Olympic Charter.
Respect the rights and well-being of, and not discriminate against, other athletes, their entourage, volunteers and all others within the sporting environment, and refrain from political demonstration in competitions, competition venues and ceremonies.
Respect the solidarity principle of the Olympic Movement, which allows assistance and support to be provided among athletes and members of the Olympic Movement.
Act as a role model, including by promoting clean sport.
Inform themselves and be aware of their responsibilities.
Participate in hearings when requested to do so and provide truthful testimony in such proceedings.
Participate and vote in athlete representatives’ elections.
1
Discuss the Athletes’ Declaration with your AC.
2
Your AC can integrate the Athletes’ Declaration into your AC statutes.
3
The Chair your AC works with your organisation and propose that the Athletes’ Declaration is also publicly adopted by the organisation.
4
The organisation agrees to adopt and references the Athletes’ Declaration in their governing statutes.
5
The organisation and AC publishes a communication about adopting the Athletes’ Declaration.
6
The AC email should notify the IOC so the IOC can update the adoption database.
7
The IOC will share the adoption on the Athlete365 impact page.
Athletes’ Rights and Responsibilities Declaration
“The Commission will work with the NOC, including the NOC’s Executive Body, to adopt the Athletes’ Rights and Responsibilities Declaration, which was presented to and adopted by the 133rd IOC Session in Buenos Aires in October 2018 on behalf of the Olympic Movement, and incorporate it into the NOC’s policies and procedures. In particular, the Commission will work with the NOC to develop mechanisms for effective remedies related to these rights and responsibilities, and to encourage athletes to make use of these mechanisms.”
More examples of successful NOC & IF Athletes’ Declaration adoption can be found on the Athlete365 impact page here
If you or your AC have any questions on the process of adopting the Declaration, please contact Karen Dolphin (karen.dolphin@olympic.org) or Charlène Tordjmann (charlene.tordjmann@olympic.org).
