WOA welcomes the newly launched Olympic Athletes' Hub

The World Olympians Association (WOA) has welcomed the creation of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Olympic Athletes’ Hub and is encouraging Olympians to sign-up and support the newly launched initiative. The new digital platform developed by Olympians for Olympians is being launched today with the aim of bringing elite athletes closer together by creating an active, online community of Olympians around the world.

With a focus on information sharing, athlete welfare and education, the Olympic Athletes’ Hub will offer an accessible platform for Olympians everywhere to seek support, knowledge and insight at each stage of their career – from pre-Games training, tips and techniques to assistance during Games-time and post-Games career transition advice and support.

The Olympic Athletes’ Hub is born out of the Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms which advocated increased support for athletes both on and off the field of play, had a mission to ensure the athlete experience was at the heart of the Olympic Games and promised to engage more effectively with the athlete community. The virtual hub now helps to deliver on these aims by making it easy for Olympians to stay up to date on the latest news, events and projects from within the Olympic Movement – with support, information and new resources easily accessible.

Olympian Ana Jelušić, who represented Croatia at three Olympic Winter Games, has been managing the project from the early stages of its development. She sees the Hub as an ideal way for Olympians to support each other throughout their careers.

Ana Jelušić, said:

"Having a structured way of viewing IOC resources and direct access to all the relevant information will hopefully make a huge difference to Olympians especially in the lead up to, during and directly following an Olympic Games. We built a platform which will allow athletes to be part of an active community of Olympians who are all going through similar experiences and that can make a big difference to the athlete experience.

"It’s definitely a tool I would have found helpful at previous Games – there is so much going on for an Olympian during Games-time and this platform will allow easy access to any support or information they might need."

IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair Claudia Bokel said:

"The IOC is committed to supporting athletes on and off the field of play.

"The Olympic Athletes’ Hub’s primary goal is to provide elite athletes with essential information in order to prepare for upcoming Games and for life after sport. In addition, it is an online community where athletes may share experiences and ideas, and see information from their National Olympic Committees."

WOA President Joël Bouzou said:

"We are very excited about the IOC’s Olympic Athletes’ Hub and can see it bringing enormous benefits for Olympians at all stages of their careers. Olympic Agenda 2020 has been an important factor in ensuring Olympians remain at the heart of the Olympic Movement and we applaud the IOC for following through on the recommendation to create a virtual hub for athletes that will grow and develop with the Olympian community in the coming months and years."

The Olympic Athletes’ Hub is aimed at all athletes that have previously competed at a Summer or Winter Olympic Games and those preparing for one of the next editions.

For more information, contact:

Robert Fawdon, VERO Communications

Email: rfawdon@verocom.co.uk

Mobile: +44 [0]7769 216 649

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