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ATHLETESPresident Bach underlined the importance of athletes to the future of the Olympic Movement when he addressed the IOC Members ahead of the approval of Olympic Agenda 2020. “They are our best ambassadors, they are our role models, they are our treasure,” he said.It is therefore understandable that athletes’ concerns are at the centre of many of the 40 recommendations, with the protection of clean athletes being at the heart of the IOC’s philosophy. New measures, such as holding formal medal ceremonies to honour clean athletes who are awarded an Olympic medal following the disqualifi cation of another athlete for doping, have been warmly received. Meanwhile, investments in anti-doping projects and education programmes on the risks of match-fi xing and competition manipulation will also help boost public confi dence in the integrity of major sporting events.But to ensure that athletes remain the best ambassadors of the Olympic Movement – and continue to act as role models for society by embodying the Olympic values – the IOC has also introduced a whole series of new initiatives aimed at strengthening its support for them both on and off the fi eld of play.At the forefront of this has been the development of a new strategy for the IOC Athletes’ Commission, “All In”, which was launched at the IOC Session in Lima (Peru). The new strategy, which is focused and action-oriented, aims to empower athlete participation in Olympic Movement decision-making and support athletes’ development in their sporting and non-sporting careers. Under this new strategy a Charter of Athlete Rights and Responsibilities will be developed. Aimed at both Olympic and non-Olympic athletes, the Charter will address the rights and responsibilities of athletes and the organisations that represent them. It will focus on topics including integrity and clean sport, sports competition, governance and career transition. “This is a defi ning moment for the IOC Athletes’ Commission, and I am thrilled to be launching a bold new strategy on behalf of my fellow athletes and members. This has resulted from months of collective efforts with athletes throughout the Olympic Movement and it now defi nes the direction that will lead our work over the next fi ve years,” said Angela Ruggiero, Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission. “We believe our strategy is inclusive. We are ready to continue this important consultation and collaboration to engage with athletes across the world to ensure we understand their perspective, and in turn, can engage with the entire Olympic Movement to make sure their voice is part of the decision-making process. To do this, we must be ‘All In’. All stakeholders must be part of this.” Among the other initiatives already introduced is the Olympic Athletes’ Hub – a digital platform for athletes where they can learn about important topics related to their careers on and off the LeftThe IOC Athletes’ Commission’s new strategy was presented by Angela Ruggiero at the IOC Session in LimaBelowThe next generation of athletes can target new mixed gender events like 4x400m relayAnd for President Bach, these wide-reaching goals of Olympic Agenda 2020 are not mutually exclusive – they are reliant on each other. For sport and the Olympic values to remain relevant and important to society, sport and the Olympic Games must enhance their credibility and retain the interest of future generations.“Olympic Agenda 2020 is like a jigsaw puzzle,” he said in December 2014. “Every piece, every recommendation, has the same importance. Only when you put all these 40 pieces together [do] you see the whole picture. “You see progress in ensuring the success of the Olympic Games, progress in safeguarding the Olympic values and progress in strengthening sport in society.”So now, almost three years on and as we approach the halfway point in the implementation of Olympic Agenda 2020, how much has been delivered? How are these reforms benefi ting wider society? And how much “fresh air” is blowing through the Olympic Movement?To read all 40 recommendations, visit olympic.org/olympic-agenda-202036 OLYMPIC REVIEW OLYMPIC AGENDA 2020