New Zealanders having significant influence on global sport through IOC Commissions

New Zealanders are helping to shape the future of global sport, with a growing number of Kiwis appointed to International Olympic Committee Commissions.
 
Leading the way is Sarah Walker (Beijing 2008, London 2012) who, as an IOC Member member, sits on the Paris 2024 Coordination Commission, Sustainability and Legacy Commission, Digital and Technology Commission, and the Athletes’ Entourage Commission.
 
Walker also sits on the New Zealand Olympic Committee Board and is on the NZOC Athletes’ Commission.
 
In addition the 30-year-old is chairing an IOC steering committee, set up to create an Athlete Charter. The Charter will be an international document setting out the rights of athletes, in efforts to ensure that athletes voices are heard and represented.
 
Former NZOC Board Member and Athletes’ Commission Chair Chantal Brunner (Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000) joins Walker on the Athlete Charter Steering Committee. She hopes the document will empower and protect athletes worldwide.
 
“The charter is extremely important, we live in a relatively benign environment in New Zealand and there are still issues so you can only imagine what issues athletes in developing nations are having to put up with,” said Brunner.
 
“Hopefully this will give them the tools to make their sporting lives a bit easier.”
 
Brunner’s also been appointed to the IOC Athletes’ Entourage Commission which advises the IOC on how best to support athletes on and off the field of play.
 
“I’m hoping that through this work I can ensure the Olympic movement remains as athlete centred as possible and that athletes’ interests are placed right up front when the IOC Executive Board is making decisions,” said Brunner.
 
Brunner also acts as the Chair of the New Zealand Olympians Commission and is on the World Olympians Association.
 
Other New Zealanders on IOC Commissions include IOC Member Barry Maister (Mexico City 1968, Munich 1972, Montreal 1976) who chairs the Olympic Education Commission as well as sitting on the Buenos Aires 2018 Co-ordination Commission and Olympic Programme Commission.
 
Former IOC Member Barbara Kendall (Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008) has been re-appointed to the Women in Sport Commission.

Above: Barbara Kendall

NZOC CEO Kereyn Smith has been re-appointed to the Sport and Active Society Commission in addition to her position as Vice President of the Commonwealth Games Federation.
 
Rounding out the New Zealanders Duane Kale (Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games) is on the Paris 2024 Coordination Commission in addition to his role as International Paralympic Committee Vice President.
 
NZOC President Mike Stanley (Los Angeles 1984) says it’s fantastic that New Zealand is so well represented across the IOC.
 
“I’m extremely proud to see the number of New Zealanders who are representing our nation and our love for sport within the IOC. All of these representatives are working to grow the profile of sport worldwide and that’s something to be celebrated,” said Stanley. 
 
“I’d also like to acknowledge the work that Sarah and Chantal are doing on the Athlete Charter. This charter reinforces the importance of the athlete voice being heard in the decision-making process in national and international sport.”
 
“A real strength of our organisation is having an active and engaged Athletes’ Commission made up of athletes elected by their peers. We thank these volunteers for their time and input.”
 
Meanwhile Richie Patterson has been elected to the NZOC Athletes’ Commission, which works to ensure athletes views are heard and considered within the NZOC and in its decision making. 
 
“It’s really special to give athletes even more say in decisions which affect them and hopefully the changes made based on their feedback help them perform at their best on the world stage.”

Above: NZOC Athletes' Commission members Alexis Pritchard and Richie Patterson

Chaired by Olympic bronze medal winning rower Nathan Twaddle the commission also includes New Zealand’s first female Olympic boxer Alexis Pritchard, heptathlete Sarah Cowley, canoe slalom athlete Mike Dawson, skeleton athlete Ben Sandford, track cyclist Ali Shanks and Sarah Walker.
 
A number of other New Zealanders including Ben Sandford (WADA Athletes’ Commission) also contribute to international sport through membership on different commissions and working groups.
 
 
New Zealand IOC Members
 
Barry Maister, ONZM
Sarah Walker
 
The IOC currently comprises 96 IOC Members who vote on matters such the election of the host cities of the Games. Their membership is on a volunteer basis. IOC Members also contribute to different commissions and working groups.
 
 
About the IOC Commissions
 
Paris 2024 Coordination Commission
 
The IOC Commission working to monitor the progress of Paris 2024, and provide guidance to the Organising Committee in regard to the planning, organisation, staging and financing of the Olympic Games.
 
 
Athletes’ Entourage Commission
 
The Commission which advises the IOC on how best to support athletes on and off the field of play.
 
 
Women in Sport Commission
 
The Commission which advises the IOC on how best to promote equal opportunities for girls and women to participate in, and benefit from sport and physical activity.
 
 
Sport and Active Society Commission
 
The Commission which promotes sport and physical activity at all levels around the world.
 
 
Olympic Programme Commission
 
The Olympic Programme Commission is responsible for analysing the sport programme for both the Games of the Olympiad and Olympic Winter Games. The Commission also forms proposals regarding sport inclusion for consideration by the IOC Executive Board.
 
 
Sustainability and Legacy
 
The Commission which advises the IOC on sustainability and legacy matters to enable them to make informed, balanced decisions that maximise positive impacts, minimise negative impacts and foster positive change and legacies in the social, economic and environmental spheres.
 
 
Digital and Technology
 
The Commission ensures that the IOC has an appropriate strategy for the effective, secure and sustainable use of technology in support of the delivery of the Olympic Games and of the Youth Olympic Games.
 
 
Buenos Aires 2018 Co-ordination Commission
 
The IOC Commission working to monitor the progress of Buenos Aires 2018, and provide guidance to the Organising Committee in regard to the planning, organisation, staging and financing of the Youth Olympic Games.
 
 
Olympic Education
 
The Commission which advises on the promotion of Olympic values-based education and provides strategic direction on IOC programmes and activities related to the education of youth through sport.
 
 
The IOC Steering Committee for the Athlete Charter
 
The committee helping to shape the Athlete Charter, an international document setting out the rights of athletes, in efforts to ensure that athletes voices are heard and represented.

New Zealanders having significant influence on global sport through IOC Commissions

 
New Zealanders are helping to shape the future of global sport, with a growing number of Kiwis appointed to International Olympic Committee Commissions.
 
Leading the way is Sarah Walker (Beijing 2008, London 2012) who, as an IOC Member member, sits on the Paris 2024 Coordination Commission, Sustainability and Legacy Commission, Digital and Technology Commission, and the Athletes’ Entourage Commission.
 
Walker also sits on the New Zealand Olympic Committee Board and is on the NZOC Athletes’ Commission.
 
In addition the 30-year-old is chairing an IOC steering committee, set up to create an Athlete Charter. The Charter will be an international document setting out the rights of athletes, in efforts to ensure that athletes voices are heard and represented.
 
Former NZOC Board Member and Athletes’ Commission Chair Chantal Brunner (Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000) joins Walker on the Athlete Charter Steering Committee. She hopes the document will empower and protect athletes worldwide.
 
“The charter is extremely important, we live in a relatively benign environment in New Zealand and there are still issues so you can only imagine what issues athletes in developing nations are having to put up with,” said Brunner.
 
“Hopefully this will give them the tools to make their sporting lives a bit easier.”
 
Brunner’s also been appointed to the IOC Athletes’ Entourage Commission which advises the IOC on how best to support athletes on and off the field of play.
 
“I’m hoping that through this work I can ensure the Olympic movement remains as athlete centred as possible and that athletes’ interests are placed right up front when the IOC Executive Board is making decisions,” said Brunner.
 
Brunner also acts as the Chair of the New Zealand Olympians Commission and is on the World Olympians Association.
 
Other New Zealanders on IOC Commissions include IOC Member Barry Maister (Mexico City 1968, Munich 1972, Montreal 1976) who chairs the Olympic Education Commission as well as sitting on the Buenos Aires 2018 Co-ordination Commission and Olympic Programme Commission.
 
Former IOC Member Barbara Kendall (Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008) has been re-appointed to the Women in Sport Commission.
 
NZOC CEO Kereyn Smith has been re-appointed to the Sport and Active Society Commission in addition to her position as Vice President of the Commonwealth Games Federation.
 
Rounding out the New Zealanders Duane Kale (Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games) is on the Paris 2024 Coordination Commission in addition to his role as International Paralympic Committee Vice President.
 
NZOC President Mike Stanley (Los Angeles 1984) says it’s fantastic that New Zealand is so well represented across the IOC.
 
“I’m extremely proud to see the number of New Zealanders who are representing our nation and our love for sport within the IOC. All of these representatives are working to grow the profile of sport worldwide and that’s something to be celebrated,” said Stanley. 
 
“I’d also like to acknowledge the work that Sarah and Chantal are doing on the Athlete Charter. This charter reinforces the importance of the athlete voice being heard in the decision-making process in national and international sport.”
 
“A real strength of our organisation is having an active and engaged Athletes’ Commission made up of athletes elected by their peers. We thank these volunteers for their time and input.”
 
Meanwhile Richie Patterson has been elected to the NZOC Athletes’ Commission, which works to ensure athletes views are heard and considered within the NZOC and in its decision making. 
 
“It’s really special to give athletes even more say in decisions which affect them and hopefully the changes made based on their feedback help them perform at their best on the world stage.”
 
Chaired by Olympic bronze medal winning rower Nathan Twaddle the commission also includes New Zealand’s first female Olympic boxer Alexis Pritchard, heptathlete Sarah Cowley, canoe slalom athlete Mike Dawson, skeleton athlete Ben Sandford, track cyclist Ali Shanks and Sarah Walker.
 
A number of other New Zealanders including Ben Sandford (WADA Athletes’ Commission) also contribute to international sport through membership on different commissions and working groups.
 
 
New Zealand IOC Members
 
Barry Maister, ONZM
Sarah Walker
 
The IOC currently comprises 96 IOC Members who vote on matters such the election of the host cities of the Games. Their membership is on a volunteer basis. IOC Members also contribute to different commissions and working groups.
 
 
About the IOC Commissions
 
Paris 2024 Coordination Commission
 
The IOC Commission working to monitor the progress of Paris 2024, and provide guidance to the Organising Committee in regard to the planning, organisation, staging and financing of the Olympic Games.
 
 
Athletes’ Entourage Commission
 
The Commission which advises the IOC on how best to support athletes on and off the field of play.
 
 
Women in Sport Commission
 
The Commission which advises the IOC on how best to promote equal opportunities for girls and women to participate in, and benefit from sport and physical activity.
 
 
Sport and Active Society Commission
 
The Commission which promotes sport and physical activity at all levels around the world.
 
 
Olympic Programme Commission
 
The Olympic Programme Commission is responsible for analysing the sport programme for both the Games of the Olympiad and Olympic Winter Games. The Commission also forms proposals regarding sport inclusion for consideration by the IOC Executive Board.
 
 
Sustainability and Legacy
 
The Commission which advises the IOC on sustainability and legacy matters to enable them to make informed, balanced decisions that maximise positive impacts, minimise negative impacts and foster positive change and legacies in the social, economic and environmental spheres.
 
 
Digital and Technology
 
The Commission ensures that the IOC has an appropriate strategy for the effective, secure and sustainable use of technology in support of the delivery of the Olympic Games and of the Youth Olympic Games.
 
 
Buenos Aires 2018 Co-ordination Commission
 
The IOC Commission working to monitor the progress of Buenos Aires 2018, and provide guidance to the Organising Committee in regard to the planning, organisation, staging and financing of the Youth Olympic Games.
 
 
Olympic Education
 
The Commission which advises on the promotion of Olympic values-based education and provides strategic direction on IOC programmes and activities related to the education of youth through sport.
 
 
The IOC Steering Committee for the Athlete Charter
 
The committee helping to shape the Athlete Charter, an international document setting out the rights of athletes, in efforts to ensure that athletes voices are heard and represented.