The 12th International Athletes Forum brought together more than 400 athlete representatives in Lausanne, Switzerland, at an event organized every two years by the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission. Representatives from 200 National Olympic Committees, 54 International Federations, the World Anti-Doping Agency, the International Paralympic Committee, organizing committees for upcoming Olympic Games, and continental associations of NOCs participated.
IOC President Thomas Bach and IOC President-elect Kirsty Coventry welcomed participants to the Olympic capital. During the forum, athletes had the opportunity to discuss the issues most relevant to them, including financial support, mental health, and career transition.
Thomas Bach bids farewell as IOC President
In his last appearance at the Forum as IOC President, Thomas Bach highlighted the importance of Olympic values in an increasingly divided world. “Sport is about unifying, about solidarity. You, the athletes, are the best ambassadors and living examples of these values,” Bach said. Participants bid him farewell with an emotional video and a standing ovation, recognizing his legacy in the Olympic Movement.
For her part, Kirsty Coventry, president-elect of the IOC and two-time Olympic champion, emphasized the role of athletes as role models. “We must ensure that we make good decisions for our athletes, creating an incredible platform like the Olympic Games so that they can succeed and benefit their communities.”
Direct support programs for athletes
During the forum, key initiatives to support athletes were discussed. Among them, the Olympic Solidarity program, which will invest $650 million between 2025 and 2028 in scholarships and athlete development. More than 400 athletes have already received scholarships to qualify for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games.
In addition, the growth of Athlete365 was highlighted, a platform that now has more than 200,000 members, offering resources such as career transition workshops, coaching, and tools for entrepreneurs. The Mind Zone x Powerade project was also presented, which provides spaces to work on mental health during the Olympic Games.
Initiatives to strengthen athlete commissions
The forum also addressed the strengthening of athlete commissions globally. Success stories were presented on how to use NOC activity grants, which offer up to $10,000 annually for projects focused on supporting athletes. In addition, workshops were held on effective representation, social media, and the implementation of the Declaration of the Rights and Responsibilities of Athletes.
Participants also received training on topics such as anti-doping, competition manipulation prevention, and sustainability, strengthening their ability to represent and support athletes in their respective regions.
