The European Paralympic Committee (EPC) has launched the nomination process for its first ever Athletes’ Council, aiming to strengthen the athlete voice within Para sport in the region.
All full EPC Members in good standing – National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) and International and Regional Federations – can nominate up to two athletes to the Council as long as they meet certain criteria.
These include the requirement that nominees must that have represented their country or territory at sanctioned competition level or above – according to the relevant International Federation - within the previous eight years at the time of their appointment.
Nominations will also be accepted for athletes from sports on the current Paralympic programme and those recognised by the International Paralympic Committee.
Nomination forms and a description of the EPC Athletes’ Council’s role have been sent to EPC Members via email. The deadline for nominations is 30 November 2023.
Nantenin Keita is the current athlete representative on the EPC Executive Board. Keita will be on the EPC’s Athletes’ Council alongside seven others.
Åsa L Norlin, Reflector of the EPC’s Governance Working Group and Executive Board member, said: “The EPC has a strong track record of athlete representation, including the current Board. Half of us are Paralympians and former athletes from summer and winter sports, including myself.
“However we recognised, alongside our Membership, that we needed to do more to embed athletes’ views and needs into our work and strategy. The athlete voice is not just a nice thing to have. It is essential to ensuring that the decisions we make are sustainable and based in reality.”
At the same time, proposals are also being invited from the Membership for people to sit on a Nominations Subgroup.
This group will be responsible for reviewing all athlete nominations and deciding who the final EPC Athletes’ Council will be, ensuring a good balance of gender, geography, disability groups and winter and summer sports is achieved. Names for the subgroup can be submitted until 13 November 2023.
The launch of nominations for the EPC Athletes’ Council follows a process by the EPC’s Governance Working Group which is formed of EPC Members. Established in 2022 the working group was set-up, alongside those for sports, finance and partnerships and communications, to support the delivery of the EPC’s Strategic Plan. The plan itself was created by the Membership and EPC Board at the 2021 General Assembly.
The Governance Working Group drafted a proposal for the Athlete’s Council which was put to Members at the 2023 General Assembly. A consultation period then led to the final description being agreed and distributed to Members alongside the nomination forms.
The working group will now be responsible for reviewing the names put forward for the Nomination Subgroup and deciding who should be on it.
Once the membership of the Athletes’ Council has been decided by the end of 2023, the council will elect a representative to sit on the EPC Board and meet at least three times per year. The first meeting will take place at the beginning of 2024. The EPC will appoint a person to provide support to the Athletes’ Council in carrying out their work.
Members with questions about the Athletes’ Council, Nomination Subgroup or how to take part in the process can contact lucy.dominy@europaralympic.org.
