More than 400 athlete representatives from across the world gathered in Lausanne this week for the 12th edition of the International Athletes’ Forum, a two-day summit hosted by the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission.
The event brought together delegates from 200 National Olympic Committees, 54 International Federations, the International Paralympic Committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency, and various Olympic organising bodies to tackle some of the most urgent issues affecting athletes today.
Held in the Olympic Capital, the forum featured the participation of both outgoing IOC president Thomas Bach and president-elect Kirsty Coventry, whose presence added a symbolic weight to proceedings as the Olympic Movement transitions into a new chapter of leadership.
In what was his final appearance at the forum as IOC president, Bach delivered an impassioned address underlining the need for sport to act as a force for unity in an increasingly divided world. He urged athletes to stand firm in promoting values of solidarity, peace and respect, saying that sport not only demands respect among competitors but also a responsibility to help one another. “We are standing against hate, divisions, growing inequalities. This is why we have to be even more determined, outspoken and consistent in what we are doing,” he said.
Bach’s remarks were met with a standing ovation after a moving farewell video featuring athletes’ tributes to his decades-long commitment to athlete representation. Bach, himself a former Olympic fencing champion and founding member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission in 1981, steps down next week as Kirsty Coventry officially takes over on 23 June.
Coventry, a two-time Olympic swimming champion and former chair of the Athletes’ Commission, addressed participants with a clear call to action. She emphasised that athletes are more than competitors, they are ambassadors and role models both globally and in their local communities. “In order to inspire the next generation, we must continue to make good decisions for athletes, ensure we create a platform where they can succeed, and help them leverage the Olympic Games to benefit their careers and communities,” she said. She also called for a renewed commitment to Olympic values, urging athletes to lead by example through friendship, excellence and respect.
Throughout the forum, athletes engaged in open dialogue and practical workshops focusing on support systems, rights, and challenges faced across sporting careers. Key topics included career transition, mental health, anti-doping, safeguarding, and financial assistance through Olympic Solidarity and partner initiatives.
Direct athlete support was a central theme. From 2025 to 2028, Olympic Solidarity will invest 650 million US dollars in athlete development, with more than 400 scholarships already awarded ahead of Milano Cortina 2026. The Athlete365 platform continues to grow, now serving over 200,000 athletes and entourage members, with a new app improving access to Games-time imagery, resources, and personalised support tools.
Career transition remained a top concern, with Athlete365 Career Plus workshops and business accelerator programmes designed to equip athletes with life skills and mentoring opportunities after retirement. Mental health was also prioritised, building on the success of the Athlete365 Mind Zone at Paris 2024, which will return for the Winter Games in 2026.
The forum addressed safe sport with a focus on safeguarding structures. New regional hubs are being piloted in southern Africa and the Pacific islands, providing certified safeguarding officers and practical tools to protect athletes from abuse. Meanwhile, athlete commissions were given training on governance, communication and best practices, including how to implement the Athletes’ Rights and Responsibilities Declaration.
Social media and digital presence were also explored, with athletes receiving guidance on how to use their platforms to advocate for causes, connect with fans and generate income.
One of the most strongly voiced moments came when the IOC Athletes’ Commission and the WADA Athlete Council issued a joint statement condemning the upcoming Enhanced Games as a betrayal of core Olympic values. The statement, which received a round of applause, reaffirmed the forum’s commitment to clean sport and athlete well-being in the face of growing commercialised alternatives that promote performance-enhancing drug use.
Reflecting on the outcomes of the forum, IOC Athletes’ Commission chair Emma Terho described the event as a vital platform for athlete engagement and support. “This year’s main takeaways have been the importance of athlete support at every level, individually, through commissions and with the resources to help them use their platforms to lead on issues that matter,” she said.
Held every two years, the International Athletes’ Forum is more than a gathering of elite performers. It is a strategic sounding board for the Olympic Movement’s future. As the IOC continues to chart its path beyond Olympic Agenda 2020 and Olympic Agenda 2020 plus 5, the voices and perspectives shared in Lausanne will help shape the roadmap of international sport in the years to come.
