adminduring the Extraordinary IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The 29-year-old was elected to the Commission last year during the London Olympic Games along with three other members — Slovakia’s Danka Bartekova (shooting), James Tomkins (rowing) from Australia and France’s Tony Estanguet (canoeing) and they attended their first Athletes’ Forum from June 27 to 29 in Singapore.
The four athletes will be IOC members for an eight-year-term of office and they replaced Hicham El Guerrouj, Rania Elwani, Frank Fredericks and Jan Zelezny.
The Athlete’s Commission was created in 1981 and its role is to make sure that the athlete’s interests are protected.
The Commission meets once or twice a year and serves as a consultative body and is the link between active athletes and the IOC.
The Commission represents the athletes within the Olympic Movement and also upholds the rights and obligations of the athletes.
Members of the Athletes’ Commission are involved in the IOC’s main commissions and working groups.
In a statement posted on her official Facebook page, Coventry said she is looking forward to working hard to ensure that the athlete’s voices are head.
“I have just been sworn in as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), on the Athlete’s Commission. The Athlete’s Commission is the consulting body between the Athletes and the IOC.
“The IOC is one big family sharing and spreading the values of the Olympic movement and I am honoured to be joining this successful team. The voice and needs of the athletes are the heart of this organisation, and it keeps us alive. I am very thankful to have been elected by the 2012 Olympians to represent athletes around the world and I look forward to working hard to ensure their voices are heard.
“Becoming an Athlete’s Commission member is an honour because out of the hundreds of Athlete’s that are put forward by their country’s Olympic Committee only 21 candidates are chosen to stand for election.
“Out of these 21 candidates, only four will be elected. These four are elected by the Olympic Athletes at the Games,” said Coventry.
The seven-time Olympic medalist and two-time champion in the 200 backstroke said the move means the IOC have given her their trust.
“The honour is made greater still because as an IOC Athlete Commission representative, it means the IOC have given me their trust and faith and invited me into their family, which consists of only 105 members from around the world.
“My appreciation for what the IOC do and have done for the Olympic movement is immense. I never realised the amount of work that goes into ensuring one of the greatest shows in the world can take place,” said Coventry.
Online Reporter