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Athlete power and athlete representation

On this theme page, you can find news, comment pieces and other materials in the field of athlete power and athlete representation in sport.

Strengthening Athlete Power In Sport (SAPIS)

Play the Game and a number of project partners are currently involved in the project 'Strengthening Athlete Power In Sport', which is examining the extent of the ‘lack of voice’ for athletes, how it is distributed across European sport, and how models of better practices can best be developed.

Read more about the SAPIS project on the project website

Read the litterature review made by the project partners:
Strengthening athlete power in sport - A multidisciplinary review and framework

See the good practice guide, which aims to inspire athlete representatives and other stakeholders to empower athletes in the governance of their sports by sharing best practices and research findings: Strengthening Athlete Power in Sport - A guide to opening new ways in sports governance

See also the final report from the project: Strengthening Athlete Power in Sport - Final report

News and comments on athlete power

Athletes in starting position on running track
PtG Opinion 19.06.2024
Three principles should guide consultations with athletes about how to include transgender athletes
Football girl with rainbow armband
PtG Opinion 26.03.2024
Practical suggestions on how sports federations can be fair to transgender athletes
Whitney Bragnolo at Play the Game conference
PtG Article 23.02.2024
Sports federations urged to do more to safeguard athletes
Panel on anti-doping
PtG Article 16.02.2024
CEO of USADA: "There is a lot we could do to ease the burden on the athletes"
Khalida Popal
PtG Article 05.02.2024
Pay gaps, representation, or even being allowed to play - the struggle for women in football is far from over
Zeinab Rezaie from Afghanistan
PtG Article 07.11.2023
The IOC has turned a blind eye to Taliban violations of the Olympic Charter for more than two years
Panel debate at SAPIS conference
PtG Article 04.10.2023
Conference showcased many examples of how athletes organise to protect and further their own interests
Runners hugging
PtG Article 20.09.2023
New SAPIS report highlights that many athletes still lack influence and points to ways forward for better athlete representation
Spanish women futsal players
PtG Article 28.08.2023
Pioneers share success stories about athlete influence at SAPIS conference
Tennis player
PtG Article 13.07.2023
Book 28 September and contribute to strengthening athlete power in sport
Runners
PtG Article 19.06.2023
SAPIS project launches good practice guide to strengthen athletes’ power in sport
PtG Comment 27.03.2023
Coe and Bach: United in history, divided by history
Canadas ungdomslandshold i ishockey
PtG Article 29.08.2022
Sexual abuse in sport: Canada could be a world leader in developing solutions
Friba Rezayee holder oplæg
PtG Article 30.06.2022
Afghanistan’s first female Olympian: IOC is funding the Taliban-controlled NOC in Kabul
Panel at conference
PtG Article 29.06.2022
Reports of abuse of athletes continue to emerge across the globe
Peter Donnelly
PtG Article 28.06.2022
Peter Donnelly: Children’s elite training meets the definition of child labour
Photo: GettyImages/Matt Roberts.
PtG Article 10.06.2022
New book presents urgent call to listen to athletes in modern pentathlon
Krystsina Tsimanouskaya
PtG Article 30.11.2021
A vote of no confidence in the Court of Arbitration for Sport
PtG Article 28.09.2021
First output ready from project to strengthen athlete power in sport
Danish national football team
PtG Analysis 22.04.2021
Athletes knock the legs from under global sports governance
The Olympian basketball player Yelena Leuchanka
PtG Article 24.11.2020
Athlete activism is getting a female face
Photo by IOC/Ian Jones
PtG Opinion 09.11.2020
To stand up for Olympic values it may be necessary to kneel as well
Protests in Belarus
PtG Article 23.10.2020
Belarusian athletes take lead in battle for democracy
Nikki Dryden
PtG Opinion 21.08.2020
Athletes should not be gagged in exchange for Olympic dream
Colin Kaepernick
PtG Analysis 11.08.2020
Athletes’ gestures are protected by international human rights law
Megan Rapinoe
PtG Opinion 23.06.2020
Making a case for athlete advocacy: Humanitarians, Olympism and good governance
PtG Article 06.03.2020
Athletes and academics join forces to open more avenues for athlete influence
PtG Article 06.03.2020
It is important to ensure that athletes' voices are heard
Men raising their fists
PtG Analysis 11.02.2020
A fist of freedom or a fist of iron? Rule 50 and the Olympic paradox
Protesters in Brazil
PtG Comment 31.12.2019
A decade that opened windows of democracy in sport
PtG Article 20.11.2019
Global Athlete: “We are noticed”
Erin Willson
PtG Article 25.10.2019
The struggle for safe sport in Canada: one step forward, two steps back
Nikki Dryden
PtG Article 16.10.2019
Athlete activism: defending the right to protest
PtG Comment 16.10.2019
IAAF shares viewpoints on Semenya after Play the Game 2019 debate
PtG Article 14.10.2019
Athletes must be heard
PtG Article 13.10.2019
Athletes' voices: breakthrough or breakdown?
PtG Article 13.10.2019
Time’s up: Athlete power on the rise!
PtG Comment 13.10.2019
Athlete activism: An omen for sport in the 2020's?
PtG Comment 11.10.2019
Sport should commit to international standards for child protection
PtG Article 22.07.2019
Children’s rights – the next big issue for sport?
PtG Article 12.03.2014
FIFA and the Lifting of the Ban on the Hijab
PtG Article 29.10.2013
West Germany considered pumping swimmers full of air

Read more about the SAPIS project

Athletes
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Strengthening Athlete Power in Sport (SAPIS)