Chanel Gilomen, Swiss Bandy and FIB representative.
The 11th International Athletes’ Forum (IAF) in Lausanne, Switzerland had over 400 athlete representatives. During the event there were discussisons about the most important issues for athletes across the Olympic Movement. The two days of discussion and debate resulted in a series of outcomes, announced by the IOC Athletes’ Commission. The captain of the Swiss women’s bandy team, Chanel Gilomen, represented the Federation of International Bandy.
Chanel Gilomen
The IAF ended with an in-depth, two-hour Q&A session with the IOC President, Thomas Bach. Mr Bach engaged directly with the athlete representatives to answer their questions – no topics were off limits. Safe sport, the upcoming Olympic Games Paris 2024, the participation of individual neutral athletes with a Russian or Belarussian passport in international competitions during the qualification period, and the mission of the Olympic Games to unite the world in peaceful competition and contribute to peace and understanding were all part of the discussion.
Other topics raised and addressed by the IOC President were: the situation of athletes from countries and regions affected by the too many wars and conflicts around the world; the digitalisation of sport, with Artificial Intelligence on the rise; the growing popularity of esports; the inclusion of AC chairs in the NOC delegations at the Olympic Games; the inclusion of new sports in the Olympic programme; cooperation with the Deaflympics; the length of the stay of athletes in the Olympic Village; the support of the IOC for the Olympic Community of Ukraine; the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 as an event for the entire African continent; and safeguarding and protection for athletes.
Thomas Bach, IOC President
The IOC President Thomas Bach concluded:
-You can all look forward to the Olympic Games Paris 2024, which will be the Games of a new era!
-It will be the first Olympic and Paralympic Games to be planned and delivered in line with the reforms of our Olympic Agenda. They will be sustainable, urban, inclusive and youthful Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Olympic Games Paris 2024 will also be the first-ever Olympic Games with gender parity. The IOC has allocated exactly the same number of quota places to female and male athletes.”