Montreal, June 27, 2024
Today, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is pleased to share its plan to promote clean sport for athletes participating in the upcoming 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games (Paris 2024) in Paris, France. Together, the two events will feature more than 14.000 athletes representing more than 200 national Olympic and Paralympic committees.
WADA Athlete Engagement Teams will be located in the Paris 2024 Athlete Village to implement the ‘Team Play True’ campaign which aims to raise public awareness of doping-free sport.
“WADA's Athlete Engagement Program, which raises awareness of doping-free sport, has proven to benefit countless athletes since 2001,” said Karine Henrie, WADA Head of Athlete Engagement. WADA is grateful for the invitation from the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee to be on hand to communicate directly with athletes and others throughout the Games. Paris 2024 will mark the first time in the history of this program that it will be entirely led by athletes. I am confident that our teams, with their diverse backgrounds and in-depth knowledge and experience as clean sport athletes, will enrich the Games experience for every athlete, coach and support staff they meet. »
The Olympic and Paralympic Athlete Engagement Teams described below, which include representatives from 12 countries on five different continents, are made up of athlete leaders from various athlete representative bodies.
Olympic Games Athlete Engagement Team:
- Ms. Adriana Escobar (El Salvador), international rower, President of the Athletes' Commission of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of El Salvador and member of the WADA Athletes' Council;
- Ms. Dora Hegyi (Hungary), international aerobic gymnast, gold medalist at the European Games, vice-president of the Athletes' Commission of the International Gymnastics Federation and member of the Athletes' Council and the Education Committee of WADA;
- Mr. Chris Kinney (United States), Olympic athlete (bobsleigh) and member of the Athletes' Commission of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee;
- Mr. Jessie Lacuna (Philippines), two-time Olympian (swimming), Chairman of the Philippine Sportsmen's Commission and Board Member of Philippine Aquatics;
- Mr. Khotso Mokoena (South Africa), four-time Olympian (athletics), Olympic silver medalist in long jump and Chairman of the Sportsmen's Commission of the South African Sports Confederation and the Olympic Committee;
- Ms. Hazel Ann Regis-Buckels (Grenada), two-time Olympian (athletics), President of the Grenada Olympians Association and Chairperson of the Grenada Sportsmen's Commission;
- Ms. Minttu Tuominen (Finland), four-time Olympian (ice hockey), three-time Olympic bronze medalist and board member of the Finnish Ice Hockey Players' Association;
“I am honored to be part of the WADA Paris 2024 Athlete Engagement Team,” said Ms. Escobar. The Olympic and Paralympic Games can be intimidating, especially for those participating for the first time. Our athlete-led team is ready to connect with athletes and support staff to raise awareness and understanding of clean sport. »
“Nearly ten years ago, as an athlete, I was first exposed to the anti-doping process and a program similar to WADA's Athlete Engagement program was made available to me. The interactions I had with those who had been in my position before put me at ease. This is why this program is so important. This type of resource can have a marked impact on an athlete's experience at the Games and also on their anti-doping rights and responsibilities in the future. »
As part of WADA's Olympic Athlete Engagement Program, the International Testing Agency will also include Olympian Nikki Hamblin, a member of its education team, as part of the Athlete Engagement Team of the AMA. Ms. Hamblin will be on hand to provide advice and support for any educational issues that arise during the program.
Paralympic Games Athlete Engagement Team:
- Mr. Ivan Ćosić (Croatia), representative of World Paravolley athletes and member of the WADA Athletes' Council;
- Ms. Erica Gavel (Canada), Paralympian (wheelchair basketball), President of the Athletes' Commission of the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation and President of the Athletes' Committee of the Canadian Paralympic Committee;
- Ms. Katarzyna Rogowiec (Poland), Paralympic gold medalist (cross-country skiing) and former member of the WADA Athletes' Committee.
“I am delighted to arrive in Paris for what promises to be an incredible Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Mr. Ćosić. In my opinion, speaking directly to athletes is the best way for them to share their experiences with the anti-doping process and WADA's Athlete Engagement Program is set up to achieve this. »
In addition to the athlete engagement teams, there will be several members of the Sports Council of the AMA in Paris 2024, namely:
- Ms. Gaby Ahrens (Namibia), three-time Olympian (sport shooting) and Vice-President of the WADA Athletes' Council;
- Mr. Iñaki Gomez (Canada), two-time Olympian (race walking), member of the WADA Athletes' Council and member of the WADA Independent Observer Team at the 2024 Olympic Games;
- Ms. Zhang Hong (China), two-time Olympian (speed skating), Olympic gold medalist, member of the WADA Athletes' Council and the IOC Athletes' Commission;
- Mr. Humphrey Kayange (Kenya), Olympian (rugby), member of the WADA Athletes' Council and the IOC Athletes' Commission;
- Ms. Kristen Kit (Canada), Olympic gold medalist and Paralympic bronze medalist (rowing) and member of the WADA Sportsmen's Council;
- Mr. Patrick O'Leary (Ireland), two-time Paralympian (paracanoe), member of the WADA Athletes' Council and Foundation Board, and member of the Independent Observer Team at the 2024 Paralympic Games;
- Mr. Ryan Pini (New Guinea), four-time Olympian (swimming), President of the WADA Sportsmen's Council and Papua New Guinea Chef de Mission for Paris 2024;
- Ms. Ella Sabljak (Australia), Paralympian (wheelchair basketball and rugby), member of the Paralympics Australia Athletes' Commission and member of the WADA Athletes' Council;
- Ms. Emma Terho (Finland), five-time Olympian (ice hockey), two-time Olympic bronze medalist, member of the WADA Athletes' Council and President of the IOC Athletes' Commission;
- Ms. Jitske Visser (Netherlands), four-time Paralympian (wheelchair basketball), Paralympic gold medalist, member of the WADA Athletes' Council and Chair of the IPC Athletes' Commission; And
- Ms. Maja Włoszczowska (Poland), four-time Olympian (MTB), two-time silver medalist, member of the WADA Athletes' Council and the IOC Athletes' Commission.
“We are very proud to highlight that a number of members of the sports council will participate in the Games,” continued Ms. Henrie. Kristen Kit will attempt to defend Canada's Olympic gold medal in rowing, while Jitske Visser of the Netherlands and Ella Sabljak of Australia will represent their countries in wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby respectively. On behalf of the AMA team, I wish them all great success! »
In addition to Ms Henrie, the Athlete Engagement team will also be supported by other WADA staff including:
- Ms. Léa Réguer-Petit (France), Senior Manager, Relations with the sports movement;
- Ms. Stacy Spletzer-Jegen (United States), Senior Manager, Athlete Mobilization; And
- Ms Laetitia Zumbrunnen (Switzerland), Senior Manager, Relations with the sports movement.