The Saudi Athletes’ Commission, which is part of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee (SAOC), has concluded its 1st International Athletes’ Virtual Forum – under the patronage of HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, President of SAOC.
Leading representatives from major sports organisations including the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), SAOC and Saudi Ministry of Sports shared best practice skills and knowledge with more than 10,000 athletes and sports institutions over two days [Saturday and Sunday] of insightful online seminars.
The Forum promoted dialogue and empowered Saudi athletes and the international sports movement by showcasing inspiring success stories, sharing knowledge and increasing awareness of helpful resources on athlete welfare, women’s sport, career transition and sports performance and science – which were made available to all global athletes.
As the first of its kind in the Middle East region, the Forum was opened by HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, President of SAOC, who said:
"Saudi Arabia is a committed supporter of the Olympic Movement, the OCA and sport throughout Asia. Aligning with Olympic values will help to drive positive social change across our nation and the Asian continent. Promoting the role of the Athletes’ Commission both locally and internationally is important to SAOC as we continue to prioritise the welfare of all athletes – especially in the areas of anti-doping, women’s sport development and mental health.
"Events like this are a central part of Saudi Arabia’s sports strategy as the Kingdom looks to drive sustainable development and establish a hub of educational and performance excellence for all athletes across Asia – helping to create more elite and recreational competitors who are healthier and better prepared."
Chair of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes' Commission and Zimbabwe Sports Minister, Kirsty Coventry, highlighted the importance of increasing athlete representation:
"Increasing athlete representation is important to ensure decision-makers are not just hearing from us, but that they are also including athletes and Athletes’ Commissions in the decision-making process. This will allow organisations to better understand what athletes go through – resulting in improved decisions."
IOC Athletes’ Rights Committee member and Vice-Chair of the Olympic Council of Asia’s Athletes’ Commission Tayyab Ikram, highlighted the opportunities for athletes to play a role in the development of sport throughout Asia:
"Ensuring athletes in Asia are involved in improving their sporting environment is vitally important. Athletes’ Commissions play a key role in identifying the challenges faced and can actively work towards addressing and overcoming them."
Ibrahim Al-Moaiqel, Chair of the Saudi Athletes’ Commission, said:
"SAOC’s vision is forward-thinking and looks to maximize the value of sport at both an elite level and throughout our local communities. To achieve this vision, athletes must be involved throughout the entire process, not just in competition. Our International Athletes’ Forum aims to promote the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship, contributing to the development of sports culture in Saudi Arabia.
"Prioritising the welfare of athletes and ensuring their voice is heard is vitally important and we will be working to increase international dialogue to further this mission. Throughout the Forum, athletes shared their experiences with learnings that benefit Saudi Arabian and Asian sport."
The first Saudi Arabian woman to compete in any Olympic event and a medal winner at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore 2010, Dalma Malhas, participated in the Forum and said:
"There is a huge number of Saudi athletes with the potential to achieve great success on an international stage. Events like this Forum are crucial in allowing us to learn more knowledge from experts, develop skills and realise our full athletic potential.
"There is an increasing number of women and girls participating in sport throughout the Kingdom and with the ongoing support of SAOC, the Saudi Athletes’ Commission and the international sports community, I know that women’s sport will grow and flourish here. It was great to participate in the ‘Empowering Women in Sport’ session."
Spread over two days, the International Athletes’ Virtual Forum included sessions on:
Athletes at the heart of the Olympic Movement
The Olympic journey
The importance of health and well-being
Empowering women in sport
Life after sport
Athlete entourage
Olympic Solidarity, Integrity – Clean athletes (session on anti-doping)
Sports psychology and mental health
Senior figures from across the sporting world shared their insight during the Forum, including:
Vice President of SAOC HH Prince Fahad bin Jalawi Al Saud
SAOC Sport Federations Services Committee CEO HRH Princess Delayel Al Saud
Chair of the Women and Sports Committee of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Sheikha Hayat Bint Abdul Aziz Al Khalifa
Olivier Niamkey, Director of Olympic solidarity at the IOC
Olympic Medallist and IOC Athletes’ Commission Member Ryu Seung Minh
Hadi Souan, Saudi silver medallist in the 400m hurdles at Sydney Olympic Games
Dalma Malhas, first Saudi female Youth Olympic Games medallist
Ali Alzahrani, Olympic champion and coach of the Saudi karate team
Majid Abdullah, former Saudi national football team captain and founder of Friends of Football Players Foundation
Kady Kanouté Tounkara, Mali basketball Olympian and member of ANOCA Athletes’ Commission
Saad Alshehri, football coach/manager of the under 23 Saudi Arabian National team
Dr. Mohammed Alkonbaz, Chairman of Saudi Anti-Doping Committee
Dr. Qassim I. Muaidi, Saudi Sports Medicine Federation President
Follow the official SAOC twitter @saudiolympic and Instagram account @saudiolympicsa to keep up-to-date with the latest news from within Saudi Arabian sport.
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