The British Athletes Commission (BAC) was set up in 2004 to represent the interests of athletes in Great Britain to the key decision makers in sport, and to help athletes in member sports set up and maintain athlete representative structures within their sport.
The BAC is an independent organisation representing the views of athletes to major decision making bodies such as the BOA, UK Sport and NGBs.
The mission of the BAC is to ensure that UK athletes in world class performance systems train and compete within a fair, supportive and transparent system, which gives them the best opportunity of reaching their sporting goals, and helps prepare them for success in life after sport.
Chief Executive: Pete GardnerChairman: Karen PickeringThe Executive consists of:
The Chair (4 yr term)The Vice Chair (4 yr term)Up to six other members (2 yr term)There are also places on the executive for non voting members from the BAC partner organisations, UK Sport, the British Olympic Association, and the BPA.
The work of the BAC falls into 6 areas (represented issues) with at least one director responsible for each. The represented issues are:
Olympics Karen Pickering (summer) Adam Pengilly (winter)Paralympics – Giles LongWorld Class Sport –Anti doping –Non Olympic Sport – Graham GristwoodAthlete Services – Leon TaylorAreas of operation:
Advise and assist the British Olympic Association in preparation and organisation to send teams to the Olympic GamesProduce an Olympic Athletes Report after every Winter and Summer Games and follow up findings with key stakeholders in British sportObtain Team Members Agreement—consult with Olympic athletes for feedback for the British Olympic AssociationGive feedback and advice to the BOA on Olympic camps, holding camps, and passport plansFeed athlete views and opinions into LOCOG via Athletes PanelAreas of Representation:
Representation on the IOC and EOC Athletes Commissions responsible for electing and sanctioning the British nominations for the IOC and EOC ACUp to two representative seats on the NOCA seat on the British Olympic Association Executive for the Olympic Director if person is an Olympian.Athlete representative seat on each of the BOA Steering GroupsSeat on the LOCOG athlete panel for the Olympic Director if person is an OlympianOn important decisions that require each of the Olympic Sports to vote, the representatives from British Athletes Council from the Olympic Sports votes by email, post or telephone.
Areas of Operation:
Advise and assist the BPA in preparation and organisation to send teams to the Olympic GamesProduce a Paralympic Athletes Report after every Winter and Summer Games and follow up the findingswith key stakeholders in British sportObtain team Members Agreement and consult with the athletes from the Paralympic sports for feedback to the BPAGive feedback and advice to the BPA on Paralympic camps and holding camps and other schemeHandle NPC mattersFeed athlete views and opinions into LOCOG via the athletes PanelAreas of Representation:
Representation on the IPC Athletes Commissions and any other Paralympic International Committees; responsible for electing/sanctioning British nominations for these positionsUp to two representative seats on the NPC (negotiated)Seat on the BPA Executive for the Chair of the Paralympic WG if person is a Paralympian (to be negotiated)Athlete representative seat on any relevant internal committeesSeat on the LOCOG athlete panel for the Paralympic Director if person is a ParalympianOn important decisions that require each of the Paralympic Sports to vote, the representatives from British Athletes Council from the Paralympic Sports will be asked to vote by email, post or telephone.
Areas of Operation:
Work closely with UK Sport on all matters regarding World Class PerformanceAdvise UK Sport on changes proposed to Athlete Personal AwardsAdvise UK Sport on changes proposed to Athlete AgreementsAreas of Representation:
Athlete representation on International Federations and forumsRepresentative seat on the United Kingdom Sports Council, to be negotiatedAthlete representative seat on any relevant internal committees, to be negotiatedOn important decisions that require each of the World Class Sports to vote, the representatives from British Athletes Council from the World Class Sports vote by email, post or telephone.
Advise National Anti Doping Organisation on all aspects of the National Anti-Doping ProgramReport feedback information from athletes to support development of the whereabouts systemCommunicate with other international athlete commissions to bring about effective change and harmonisation of anti-doping regulationsMake recommendations to WADA and WADA Athletes commissionRegularly survey athletes as to opinions on the BOA by-lawWorking to integrate and support athletes from non Olympic sportsEnsuring athletes in Non Olympic Sport have access to all BAC benefits and servicesCommunicate with current service providers, including UK Sport, BOA, and Home Country Sports Institutes, to assist, and where possible, to enhance current provision of services to athletesFacilitate service provision where there is a defined needEnsure there is not duplication of service provision 