2012 PROFILE NEWS AND JOBS UPDATED DAILY ONLINE AT
WWW.SPORTSMANAGEMENT.CO.UK
Sarah Winckless
Karen Maxwell speaks to the chair of the British Olympic Association’s Athletes’ Commission
Can you give an account of your sporting background? I was always a person with lots of energy and played netball, basketball and did athletics at school. I won the Schools National Netball Tournament U16 with my team from Tiffin Girls’ School, and threw the discus at age group internationals. It wasn’t until I went to Cambridge to
study that I started to row – and gained Blues in athletics, netball, basketball and rowing. On graduation I joined the GB rowing squad and set my sights on competing for my country in rowing.
Can you explain your role as chair of the BOA Athletes’ Commission? My role is to ensure that the athlete is at the heart of everything the BOA does. I chair a group of 12 elected current
or recently retired Olympians, plus our elected International Olympic Commit- tee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission athletes and make sure that we look at BOA proj- ects when they are being planned. This way the group can offer its thoughts and opinions of the projects and the BOA management team can either be confi- dent in their direction of travel, or may choose to alter parts of a project. The group has great experience, and
it’s my job to ensure that things come to the commission at the right stage, and that everyone has a chance to be heard in the discussion that follows.
Does this complement other roles you hold in sport? I work in leadership and coaching and believe this role absolutely comple- ments my day job. I work through with members what they want to get out of volunteering for the commission and then set up opportunities for them to achieve these goals.
What are the current issues for the Commission and athletes in the lead up to the 2012 Games? We’ve been involved in most of the projects that the BOA has planned for the Games, so at this stage, any input is merely to help in the fine tuning. Members who are not competing in
the Games have been asked to volunteer for the BOA to help with the Olympic Ambition Programme and other roles. Current work also includes mem-
bers sitting on a Winter Sport Olympic Qualification Panel for Sochi and mem- bers working on an Olympic experience project. They’re also having input into a sustainability project. Some members will also sit on a disciplinary panel, should this be required during the Games.
How do you liaise with the BOA? I sit as a voting member on the BOA board, and my report from the commis- sion is a standing item. If the commission needs another opinion on a certain topic, I’ll introduce this onto the board agenda
My role is to ensure that the athlete is at the heart of everything that the BOA does
Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012
Sarah won a bronze medal in rowing at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games
for discussion. Also both I and a second commission member attend the National Olympic Committee meetings, where the 33 member sports meet and discuss BOA projects and policy.
How do you share best practice? I speak at and share my experiences with the European Olympic Committee Ath- letes’ Commission. I was also a volunteer at the International Olympic Academies session for Olympic medalists where I met other athletes who are active in their countries and we had a week of sharing ideas, challenges and best practice. We also have links with the IOC Athletes’
Commission, as elected member Adam Pengilly sits on our commission. Jonathan Edwards is invited to our meetings and has invited me to sit on the LOCOG Athletes’ Commission and the chair of the British Athletes’ Commission (BAC), Karen Picker- ing, invites me to BAC board meetings. I believe that the more we can commu-
nicate and work together, the louder the athletes’ voice will become.
Read Sports Management online
sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 17
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84