PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, November 23, 2024.- Three days of activities, more than 18 hours of presentations, 25 exhibitors and 130 attendees, are some of the numbers of the 3rd Panam Sports Athletes Forum that took place this week in Punta Cana.
These numbers translate into new knowledge and help to chart a clear path for all the Athletes’ Commissions of the continent.
At present, of the 41 member countries, 38 have Athletes’ Commissions, and the rest are in the process of choosing their representatives.
An encouraging number that leads the Panam Sports Athletes’ Commission to continue working to achieve that all the NOCs of the continent have athlete representation on their Boards.
That is why it is so important that these forums are held and that professionals from different areas of interest can share their experiences and help in the development of these commissions.
“The balance is extremely positive. We are very happy for everything that was experienced during these 3 days and we hope that all the athletes will transmit everything they have learned in their respective countries. Sport of the Americas is growing, and the work of the Athletes’ Commissions is becoming fundamental for this development,” said Panam Sports President Neven Ilic.
“As Panam Sports we know how important it is that all the Olympic Committees of the Americas have an active Athletes’ Commission that contributes to the decisions of the sports leaders. My message to all athletes is that they continue working and that their voice continues to be heard loudly throughout the continent,” added Ilic.
A similar opinion was expressed by the president of the Athletes’ Commission, Isabel Swan, who received important feedback from the athletes after the forum.
“The athletes of the Americas are growing in terms of their Commissions. We had very beneficial days, each one of the presentations impacted on our athletes and I know that they take with them a great experience to share in their countries. I am very happy as President, we are on the right track, and I know that soon we will have all the Panam Sports National Olympic Committees with active Athletes Commissions in our continent”, said the President of the Panam Sports Athletes Commission and Olympic medalist Isabel Swan.
Among the topics discussed in this forum were sustainability, safe sport, mental health, personal branding, post-career opportunities, anti-doping, marketing and communications, and life experience stories, as was the case of Colombia’s double Olympic medalist, Mariana Pajón, who moved the entire audience with her presentation, “The Road to Gold has 3 steps: Dream-Work-Enjoy.”
“I am surprised. I never thought my presentation would thrill so many athletes. I always present it to big businessmen in Colombia, and this was the first time I addressed my peers, the athletes of the continent. I am very grateful for the opportunity that Panam Sports gave me to share my life experience in this Forum”. Mariana Pajón, BMX Double Gold Medalist in the Olympic Games.
The 3rd Continental Athletes’ Forum was broadcast live to the whole world through the Panam Sports Channel and in the next few days, it will be available as VOD for all those who could not watch this great event.
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