EOC Acting President Janez Kocijančič and Secretary Raffaele Pagnozzi arrived in Monaco to attend the 9^th Athletes Forum and 5^th Assembly of the European Athletes that opens today with about one hundred athletes and delegates from 39 National Olympic Committees across Europe.

HE Yvette Lambin-Berti, Secretary general of the NOC of Monaco, attended the Forum opening ceremony and welcomed all participants to two days’ works.

This year’s European Athletes Forum is organised in cooperation with the IOC Athletes programme and is inspired by the Agenda 2020 Recommendations. Topics on the agenda include an overview of continental athlete’s commissions, protecting clean athletes, effective athletes commissions, and information on the IOC programmes dedicated to Athletes.

The main item of the General Assembly will be the election of the new Athletes’ Commission for the 2017-2021 period. Eighteen candidates will do their best to be elected to the 8-member commission (6 athletes from summer sports and 2 for winter sports).

On Friday, HSH Prince Albert II will officially welcome the European athletes and remember when he too was part of this group.

On the eve of the Forum the outgoing EOC Athletes’ Commission chaired by Jean-Michel Saive held a last meeting.