Athletics New Zealand launches new Athletes’ Commission

February 25, 2019
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Athletics New Zealand (Athletics NZ) is pleased to announce the formation of a new Athletes’ Commission. The Athletics NZ Athletes’ Commission will act as a consultative body and is made up of current and recent high performance athletes.

The primary aims of the Athletics NZ Athletes’ Commission are to: 

  1. Provide a mechanism for the views of high performance athletes to be heard by Athletics NZ; and
  2. Help ensure that integrity and athlete wellbeing are appropriately considered by Athletics NZ.

Dame Valerie Adams (current Deputy Chair of the IAAF Athletes’ Commission and Chair of the Oceania Athletics Athletes’ Commission) and Sarah Cowley Ross (member of the NZOC Athletes’ Commission) have agreed to serve on the inaugural Athletics NZ Athletes’ Commission, with Dame Valerie acting as inaugural chair.

A request for expressions of interest from other athletes eligible to serve on the Athlete’s Commission was shared with all carded athletes, PPS athletes and Athletics NZ Black Singlet representatives from London 2012 through 2018.

Selected to join Dame Valerie and Sarah on the first Athletics NZ Athletes’ Commission are: Jessica Hamill, Julian Matthews, Eliza McCartney, Julia Ratcliffe, Quentin Rew and Tom Walsh.

Dame Valerie, who was involved with the selection process, said the chosen athletes are role models among NZ athletes and will provide a voice for all Athletics NZ high performance athletes.

“The Athletes Commission is a forum for us to represent our rights and interests as high performance athletes, and to play a part in decisions that will impact us directly,” said Dame Valerie. “It’s a two-way communication channel between athletes and Athletics NZ.”

Athletics NZ Board Chairman, and former New Zealand Olympian, Cameron Taylor, added: “The Athletics NZ board believes the input and insight from the Athletes’ Commission will be invaluable and actively support the work of Athletics NZ.”

The initial meeting of the Commission will take place during the 2019 Jennian Homes New Zealand Track and Field Championships (8-10 March) in Christchurch.


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