LONDON: A new initiative called ‘Global Athlete’ is set to be based out of the United Kingdom which aims to act like a trade union to empower men and women athletes in the world across Olympic and Paralympic Sports, BBC reports.
The development comes after recent scandals such as doping in Russia and sex abuse in the USA gymnastics team.
Olympic champion and British cyclist Callum Skinner will help in signing athletes on board for the same. While ex-World Anti-Doping Agency deputy director general Rob Koehler will become Global Athlete’s director general.
“The time has come for a more representative and impactful voice for athletes,” Koehler told BBC.
“The status quo isn’t working. Athletes’ voices should not be suppressed or manipulated to further personal aims – it’s time for the athlete voice to be embraced and empowered. “We want what is best for the athletes and athletes want what is best for the sport.”
The organisation will be funded by FairSport, a not-for-profit association that aims to eliminate unfair practices in running sport in areas of better athlete welfare, tackling harassment, Olympic revenues or prize money distribution, stringent doping policies or better representation.
While it is keen on establishing strong and excellent relationships with existing athlete unions, Global Athlete will be run independently without much influence from governing bodies such as the IOC, IPC, national Olympic federations or governments for example.
The organization comes in direct competition with the formally approved IOC Athletes’ Commission, which has criticised its formation.
“(There are) many unanswered questions about universality, accountability and funding.
“It’s disappointing that this group seems to believe that none of us care about athletes and none of us do a good job for athletes if we are part of the Olympic movement,” the commission was quoted as saying to the news agency.
