Dedication to Athletics
Voice of the Athletes
“Athletics is not so much about the legs. It's about the heart and mind.”
Once said Kenyan long-distance runner Eliud Kipchoge. And how true are his words, because Ivet's love for athletics extends far beyond the track.
She is one of the voices of the athletes and supports that their needs and wishes are heard loud and clear for the improvement of the conditions in which they compete.
Ivet Lalova-Collio became a member of the European Athletics Athletes Committee already after its foundation in 2006. Over the years, she was re-elected in all four mandates, including the last elections in Munich for the period 2022-2026.
In 2022, she was also elected as a member of the World Athletics Athletes' Commission after a difficult and hard procedure. During the election for members, Ivet received overwhelming support and the most votes - 615.
Recognition for her is high as the World Athletics Athletes' Commission is a group of athletes that serves as a voice for athletes at the highest level of international competition. The mission of the commission is to advocate for the interests of athletes around the world and to ensure that they are part of the decision-making process within World Athletics. The commission includes representatives from each of the six continental areas and is composed of both current and former athletes.
Changes Can Be Made
Ivet Lalova-Collio is a member of the European Athletic Association Athletes Commission and The World Athletics Athlete Commission.
Athlete Commissions and the athletes’ voice
In pursuit of their goals, athletes spend many years in highly specialized training and lifestyle routines. This means they have particular issues and challenges to face, both during and after their athletic careers.
Some of these challenges are common to many athletes, while others may be sport-specific or country-specific. ACs can represent the athletes’ voice in a number of ways, including:
- finding out what challenges athletes are facing
- getting these issues raised and addressed
- ensuring athletes’ opinions are heard by your sporting organization.
The role of an athlete representative is to ensure athletes have a voice and their views are heard.
Sporting organizations all make decisions that impact athletes. Meaningful engagement with athletes or their legitimate representatives helps each organization hear, understand and respond to athletes’ views and concerns on improving their experience while addressing the impacts.
The purpose of ACs is to channel the voice of athletes to National Federations and/or European Athletics and World Athletics.
As an Athlete commission member, you can help ensure that the athletes’ voice is heard by seeking and gathering their thoughts, opinions, and concerns – and then by providing these to your respective sporting organization’s leadership.
The Chairs of the Athletes' Commissions are a voting member of the Council since 2019 and have the responsibility to advise Committees and Council on matters relevant to athletes.
