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Created on 27 October 1981, the Athletes' Commission is the link between active athletes and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

It is composed of active and retired athletes, holds at least one meeting each year and meets regularly with the IOC Executive Board, to which it issues recommendations.

Furthermore, the Commission forms working groups to work in liaison with the Organising Committees of the Olympic Games to ensure that athletes' needs are met.

Representatives from the Athletes' Commission take part in meetings of other IOC commissions in order to express the athletes' point of view, notably on doping, women in the Olympic Movement and the environment.

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At each edition of the Olympic Games (summer and winter), the participating athletes are invited to vote to elect the majority of the members on the Athletes' Commission. Following the reforms adopted by the 110th IOC Session in December 1999, the Commission is composed of 19 members:

• - Eight summer sports athletes elected during the Games of the Olympiad (four at each edition of the Games).
• - Four winter sports athletes elected during the Olympic Winter Games (two at each edition of the Games).
• - Seven athletes appointed by the IOC President, to ensure a fair balance in terms of gender, sport and region.

The 12 athletes elected by their peers serve an eight-year term and become IOC members for the duration of their term with the Athletes' Commission.

In order to achieve this goal in a harmonious manner, a gradual transition period is required. Four athletes were elected during the XIX Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City in 2002. The two athletes with the greatest number of votes, Pernilla Wiberg and Manuela Di Centa, will serve a mandate of eight years; the other two elected athletes, Jari Kurri and Adne Sondral, will serve a mandate of four years. The terms of the latter will expire during the XX Olympic Winter Games in Turin in 2006, when two new athletes will be elected for an eight-year term.

The four elected athletes became IOC members for the duration of their term with the Athletes' Commission, after approval by the 113th IOC Session.

In order to be eligible for the commission, athletes must have participated in the previous Olympic Games or in the Games during which the elections occur and never have been found guilty of a doping offence during their sports career. Only National Olympic Committees which have an athletes' commission may propose a candidate upon the recommendation of such commission.

El Guerrouj
Commission
Member The composition is composed of 19 members, with the majority being elected by the athletes themselves:

• - Twelve members elected by athletes participating in the Olympic Games
• - Seven are appointed by the IOC President to ensure a faire balance in terms of gender, sport and region

In addition, a representative of the World Olympians Association and a representative of the International Paralympic Committee are ex-officio members.

Fifteen members of the Commission may be elected as IOC members for the duration of their term, among them the athletes elected by their peers.

• Current members