The IOC Athletes’ Commission enters a new phase of strengthening with the addition of five athletes who bring diversity, experience, and a perspective deeply connected to the realities of contemporary sport. Under the leadership of Kirsty Coventry, IOC President, these appointments aim to ensure that the Commission reaches its full composition ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, consolidating a space where the voices of athletes continue to hold a central place. The decision, made in consultation with Emma Terho, Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, reflects the institutional commitment to maintaining balanced representation across genders, regions, and disciplines.
In this context, the arrival of Soraya Aghaei Haji Agha, Husein Alireza, Cheick Sallah Cissé, Olufunke Oshonaike, and Mariana Pajón marks a significant step in the mission to integrate diverse perspectives within the Olympic Movement. Each of them brings stories of resilience, remarkable sporting achievements, and a spirit of service to their communities. Coventry publicly emphasized the importance of their role, noting that the Commission is essential to ensuring that IOC decisions reflect the real experience of athletes and the values that guide sporting practice.
Five new voices for a global commission
The new members represent a mosaic of paths that enrich the identity of the Commission. From badminton to cycling, their experiences span continents and historic moments in Olympic sport. Soraya Aghaei Haji Agha, the first badminton player to represent Iran at the Games, brings a pioneering outlook on equal opportunities. Meanwhile, Husein Alireza, a Saudi rower and entrepreneur, adds a broad vision of sport as a driver of personal and collective development.
Joining these stories are those of Cheick Sallah Cissé, Olympic taekwondo champion and key figure in the sporting development of Côte d’Ivoire; Olufunke Oshonaike, an African table tennis icon with seven consecutive Olympic appearances; and Mariana Pajón, a Colombian BMX legend, two-time Olympic champion, and youth sport advocate through her foundation. Their profiles represent different generations, leadership models, and technical contributions that expand the Commission’s capacity to understand the realities of athletes at all levels.
Broader and more balanced representation
The appointments also reflect the IOC’s efforts to ensure that the Athletes’ Commission maintains a globally balanced composition. Beyond the members elected at each edition of the Olympic Games, the IOC has the authority to appoint additional members to ensure that various regions, genders, and disciplines are adequately represented at the discussion table. This mechanism has become a key tool in building a more plural, inclusive body aligned with the principles of the Olympic Movement.
With these additions, the Commission now has 23 active members from all continents, including a representative of the Refugee Olympic Team. In total, there are 13 women and 10 men, carrying experience from 15 summer sports and 5 winter sports. Chair Emma Terho celebrated this diversity, emphasizing that internal discussions will be strengthened by the breadth of perspectives and cultural contexts each new member brings.
