Bangkok, Thailand, December 3, 2024: A new face and a new voice in the Olympic Council of Asia will add value to the OCA Safeguarding Workshop in Bangkok on Thursday, December 5.
Valerie Tarazi, who represented Palestine in swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, was elected Chair of the OCA Gender Equity Committee at the 44th OCA General Assembly in New Delhi on September 8. This puts her on the OCA Executive Board, and she has already attended online meetings to see the inner workings of the OCA.
In this role, Valerie will be one of three panelists in the “Champions for Safeguarding in Sports” along with Indian luge legend Shiva Keshavan, a six-time Winter Olympian and Vice Chair of the OCA Athletes Committee, and Terry Tay, a retired gymnast from Singapore and a member of the OCA Athletes Committee.
The topic will be moderated by swimming Olympian Mark Chay, Vice President of the Singapore National Olympic Council.
Introducing Valerie Tarazi, the OCA describes her as a “distinguished athlete and academic” who is currently studying at Auburn University in Alabama, United States.
“Her athletic journey extends beyond personal achievements. She has served as an athlete representative on Illinois Swimming’s Safe Sport Committee, where she passionately advocated for the right of every athlete to feel safe and comfortable participating in sports,” the OCA added.
“Valerie’s commitment to gender equity and the safety of athletes aligns with her broader belief that sports are a basic human right. Through her work she continues to promote peace and empowerment through sport.”
Valerie, 25, was born in Illinois, United States to an Orthodox Christian family originating from Gaza, where she still has relatives.
She took up swimming aged three and has gone on to represent Palestine in several major events, such as the 2023 Arab Games in Algeria where she won two gold, three silver and one bronze medal.
She is also Palestine’s national record holder in the 50m and 100m backstroke, 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke and the 50m butterfly.
As well as representing Palestine in the Paris Olympics, she also had the honour of carrying her country’s flag in the opening and closing ceremonies.