Lausanne, Switzerland, June 29, 2025: Four athletes from Asia will be among the 11 candidates standing for election to the IOC Athletes’ Commission during the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
The four are Kazakhstan freestyle skier Zhanbota Aldabergenova, Chinese figure skater Han Cong, Korean bobsledder Won Yunjong and alpine skier Yohan Goncalves Goutt from Timor Leste.
They along with seven other athletes from other continents will vie for two positions on the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
The list of candidates, which was approved by the IOC Executive Board on Thursday, June 26, comprises eight men and three women from five different winter sports and 11 National Olympic Committees. Each nominee has been put forward by their NOCs, together with their NOC Athletes’ Commission.
“It is always inspiring to see athletes from around the world step forward to represent their peers,” said IOC AC Chair Emma Terho.
“The IOC AC plays a vital role in ensuring that athlete perspectives are included at every level of Olympic decision-making, and I commend each athlete for their commitment to this responsibility.”
The election will be held during Milano Cortina 2026. It will start on January 30, when the Olympic Village officially opens, and will run until February 18. The result will be announced on February 19, three days before the closing ceremony.
All athletes competing at Milano Cortina 2026 will be eligible to vote. The two candidates receiving the highest number of votes, from two different sports, will be elected to serve eight-year terms on the IOC AC and will be proposed for election as IOC Members to the IOC Session.
The elected athletes will replace Emma Terho and Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen, whose terms will come to an end during the Games. In addition, appointed members Zhang Hong, Chinese speed skater, and Abhinav Bindra, Indian shooter, will also conclude their eight-year terms.