UAE NOC Joins Global Athletes' Forum in Switzerland

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

Photo: WAM

The UAE National Olympic Committee (NOC), through its Athletes’ Committee, took part in the 12th International Athletes’ Forum. The event was held on June 11th and 12th in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Representing the UAE were Mohammed Al Nakhy and Aisha Jasem Al Ali, who are both members of the UAE Athletes’ Committee.

The International Athletes’ Forum is the world’s largest gathering of athlete representatives. It is organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission. This year, the forum brought together more than 400 people from around the world. The main goal was to discuss important issues that athletes face, give athletes a stronger voice, and share ideas to better support them.

The event included large group meetings called plenary sessions, as well as smaller workshops. These sessions helped participants learn about the different kinds of help offered by the IOC, Olympic Solidarity, and Olympic partners across the globe.

The workshops focused on important topics like:

• Anti-doping (making sure sports are drug-free)

• Mental health and wellness of athletes

• Stopping cheating in sports (like match-fixing)

• How athlete groups can use social media effectively

• Protecting the environment and being sustainable

• How to run athlete committees the right way

There were also updates on big upcoming Olympic Games, including:

• Milano Cortina 2026 (Winter Olympics)

• Los Angeles 2028 (Summer Olympics)

• The French Alps 2030 (Winter Olympics)

• Brisbane 2032 (Summer Olympics)

While at the forum, the UAE delegates Mohammed Al Nakhy and Aisha Jasem Al Ali had special meetings with top Olympic leaders. They spoke with Kirsty Coventry, who will become the new Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission on June 23rd. They also met with Emma Terho, the current Chair.

The International Athletes’ Forum happens once every two years. It brings together athlete groups from all over the world — including from Olympic Committees, sports federations, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). They meet to talk about how to make things better for athletes everywhere.