The assembly of the European athletes today elected its new athletes’ commission for the 2017/2021 quadrennial: six top athletes for summer sports and 2 for winter sports chosen from 18 candidates, who all strongly lobbied during the two days spent in Monaco among their colleagues from the 39 NOC in attendance.

“The Monaco Forum has been a fantastic moment to listen to athletes around our continent,” commented EOC Acting President Janez Kocijančič. “An opportunity to listen to what the future of European sport should be, with active athletes’ representation, ready to exchange their experience, to dialogue, and ensure they do their part in the decision-making process, in order to ensure better governance and better ethics.”

The election was the highlight of the 9^th Forum and 5^th General assembly held in the Principality on 18-20 October, which also was a special opportunity for athletes and NOC leaders to address topical issues such as the protection of clean athletes, how to set up an effective Athletes Commission, and above all to exchange views and proposals.

Before the election, participants had the honour to welcome HSH Prince Albert II, who is President of the Monegasque NOC, accompanied by HE Madame Yvette Lambin-Berti, the Secretary General. After the family photo, Prince Albert joined athletes and delegates for selfies and exchanged a few words with a number of them.

“It is indeed a very good group that has come out from the voting, and totally in line with gender equality, “ said EOC Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi, adding , “We are eager to see them at work and to welcome to our Executive Committee”

Pagnozzi also paid tribute to the outgoing commission, and in particular to its chair Belgian Jean-Michel Saive, who has say on the European Commission for eight years.

“These two days and half have been very positive; athletes were indeed very proactive, and the workshops in small groups proved to be a good opportunity to involve everyone and get good proposals, “ continued the EOC Secretary General added, referring to the new IOC format for continental forums.

The composition of the new EOC Athletes commission is:

Summer sports:

Chair              Mr Gerd KANTER,  Athletics-Discus Throw – ESTONIA         

Vice Chair       Mr Balazs BAJI, Athletics- 110m hurdles – HUNGARY

Secretary        Mr David HARTE, Field Hockey – IRELAND

Members:        Ms Tania CAGNOTTO, Diving – ITALY

Ms Gunta LATISEVA-CUDARE, Athletics-400/200m – LATVIA

Ms Nevriye YILMAZ, Basketball – TURKEY

For Winter Sports:

Ms Jana DAUBNEROVA, Biathlon – SLOVAKIA

Mr Eldar RØNNING, Cross-country Skiing – NORWAY