On the 5th October 2013 in Porec, Croatia, the election for the EOC Athlete Commission took place for the fourth time since the creation of the Commission, with Great Britain’s very own Kate Walsh being named as one of the select few.

Formed in 2001, the EOC Athletes’ Commission is responsible for making sure the “athlete’s voice” forms a fundamental part in the decision making processes within the EOC. By carefully selecting a specific handful of sporting experts and past Olympians, the Commission ensures that athlete’s rights are respected throughout the Olympic movement, and that athlete perspectives form an important part of the decision making within the organisation.

Walsh captained our Team GB to a triumphant bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games; the first Olympic medal won by a British Hockey team in 20 years.

Kate – who captained Great Britain to a Bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games – will play a key role in making sure that the “athlete’s voice” is always taken into consideration during the decision making processes within the EOC.

The Commission ensures that athlete’s rights are respected throughout the Olympic movement, and that athlete perspectives form an important part of the decision making within the organisation.

Kate Walsh:

“It is an honour to be selected for such a unique role, and an incredible opportunity to be able to represent my fellow athletes in something that has played such an important role in our lives”.

“The London 2012 Olympics was phenomenal for both myself and the rest of Team GB. My role on the Athlete Commission allows me to use my experiences to ensure future games are run to the same quality as London, if not better”.

The Athletes’ Commission is composed of 10 members; six summer sport athletes who have participated in previous Olympic Summer Games and two winter sport athletes who have participated in previous Winter Olympic Games. The Executive Committee reserves the right to nominate 2 athletes to the commission.

The new members include:

Summer:

Mr Jean Michel Saive, table tennis, Belguim

Ms Kate Walsh, field hockey, GB

Mr Daniel Gyurta, Swimming, Hungary

Ms Alessandra Sensini, Sailing (windsurfing), Italy

Ms Tatiana Lenedeva, Athletics (long jump), Russia

Ms Natalia Dobrynska, Athletics (heptathlon), Ukraine

Winter:

Mr Mikko Ronkainen, Freestyle skiing. Finland

Ms Luiza Zlotkowska, Speed Skating, Poland.