Bangkok, Thailand, March 19, 2023: The curtain fell down on a successful Olympic Council of Asia/Olympic Solidarity Athletes Forum on Sunday, March 19 with a raft of recommendations and decisions, and with senior OCA official Mikako Kotani urging participants to implement the lessons learned in Bangkok.
Athletes’ Committees (ACs) from 43 National Olympic Committees across Asia were presented with a series of decisions taken at the forum organised by the OCA in collaboration with IOC’s Olympic Solidarity.
“From the bottom of my heart I thank all participants for attending this forum. The goal of this meeting was not to just listen, but for you to go back home and implement all what you have learned over the past two days,” said Kotani, OCA Athletes Committee Chair and Executive Board Member.
Four key conclusions were arrived at the Grand Ballroom of the Centara Grand Hotel in Bangkok:
(1) OCA Athletes’ Committee elections to be held at the Hangzhou Asian Games in September, 2023.
(2) Support for ACs to have a dedicated liaison or administration in the NOC and for NOCs to fully support ACs by providing resources needed.
(3) ACs should apply for Olympic Solidarity activity grant of US$10,000 and the Athlete Centred Project Fund of US$3,000 from OCA, each year which can be used to organise activities to empower ACs and athletes.
(4) Athletes should not be discriminated on grounds of nationality, religion and ethnicity. They also should not be punished for the actions of their governments and have access to international competitions, including the Asian Games. With regard to the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes, they should return to international competitions under clear conditions including no flag and competing as neutrals, no government officials present, comply fully with anti-doping rules, and fairness to Asian athletes in any Olympic qualification pathway.
“It was a highly successful gathering and I’m pleased at the large participation. Now moving forward, we hope all the Athletes’ Committees will be able to put into practice what we have discussed over the last two days,” said Tony Tarraf, OCA Head of Athletes Development Department and Special Projects.
A total of 88 delegates from Athletes’ Committees of the 43 NOCs attended the forum - 46 male and 42 female representatives – of which 16 are still active athletes. Also present at the meeting were representatives from the IOC Athletes’ Commission and Olympic Solidarity.
The forum also addressed key topics like Safeguarding, the Prevention of Competition Manipulation, Athlete Career Development for Sport and Beyond, and the Fight Against Doping.
Also adopted at the forum were two recommendations from the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020+5 focusing on (a) reinforcing athletes’ rights and responsibilities, and (b) further strengthening safe sport and the protection of clean athletes.
It was also decided that the OCA introduce a hotline to tackle competition manipulation at the Hangzhou Asian Games in September. This will be the first time a reporting mechanism is in place at the Asian Games.
Delegates were unanimous in their view that the forum had been useful to their Athletes Committees. “This has been a wonderful exercise and we are thankful to the Olympic Council of Asia for organising it,” said Tajikistan’s Bahriddin Ainiddinzoda.