Montreal, February 27, 2024
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) today welcomed a record number of participants to the opening of the 2024 Global Education Conference (GEC) in Festival Palace in Cannes, France.
The conference, which takes place from February 27 to 29, is organized by theFrench Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) and will welcome more than 400 participants from around the world. The event brings together anti-doping practitioners, researchers, government officials and athletes to share and discuss emerging trends, contribute to the development of educational programs and examine how education can continue to strengthen anti-doping efforts at internationally. This is the fourth edition of the GEC, having previously taken place in Ottawa, Canada (2015), Beijing, China (2018) and Sydney, Australia (2022).
The official welcoming and opening ceremony of the conference took place today, during which Mr. Bańka and Béatrice Bourgeois, President of the AFLD, addressed the participants.
“WADA is pleased to welcome participants to this fourth edition of the World Education Conference,” said AMA President Witold Bańka. This conference has now become an integral part of the anti-doping calendar, and we are pleased to collaborate with the French Anti-Doping Agency, as well as the French government, in organizing this major event.
“With the largest number of registered participants to date, the Global Education Conference once again demonstrates that education is paramount when it comes to anti-doping and is an essential resource for protecting a clean sport. Under the theme “Cultivating Our Collective Creativity,” participants will spend the next few days exploring a variety of topics focused on design thinking, modern anti-doping programs, behavioral sciences, the athlete experience and how we can all contribute to a common educational program. We look forward to the results of these interactive sessions which we hope will further strengthen the system, particularly in the run-up to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. »
“Education is today an imperative to reduce the risks of negligent doping and allow everyone to train and prepare for competitions with confidence,” declared Ms. Bourgeois. The lack of information and awareness can indeed lead to involuntary violations of anti-doping rules, sometimes with serious consequences for the careers of athletes. The Global Education Conference is an opportunity to reiterate the commitment to anti-doping based equally on education and deterrence. »
Tomorrow, the Conference begins its vast Programs comprising a total of eleven sessions that will highlight topics such as:
- The importance of athlete commitment;
- Fundamentals of educational planning and design;
- Education to develop proper sporting behaviors;
- Involuntary doping; And
- Values-based education.
The GEC will also serve as an opportunity to discuss more broadly the Global Education Program for clean sport, as well as the evolution of International standard for education.
Le Education Committee of the AMA also held its annual meeting in person yesterday; and, earlier in the day, WADA facilitated regional and community conversations, allowing anti-doping organizations to share their recent education experiences through “Show and Tell” sessions.
