Sport involves a lot of different stakeholders, organisations, federations, fans, journalists and so on, but in the midst of all this are the athletes.
What do the big sports organisations and federations do to ensure the athletes' well being? And what kind of rights can elite athletes expect when joining large sports events like the Olympic Games and what happens when the athletes retire?
What do you think? Go to our comment section.
Below you will find a selection of articles and links that tries to give perspectives on these and other matters concerning the athlete.
European Elite Athletes Association
The European Elite Athletes Association represents 25.000 elite athletes from 15 countries and supplies news and information concerning the athletes.
Sport in Society
A research from the Sport in Society program at Northeastern University in Boston released an Athletes' bill of rights in April 2009 - a document aiming to ensure athletes of their rights during and after their careers.
The Professional Athletes Foundation
The Professional Athletes Foundation is a non-profit oraganisation that aims to help and service athletes after their careers have ended.
Center for the study of retired athletes
A research center for the study on retired athltes and their physical and psycological well being after the end of their careers.
The European Athletes as Student Network (EAS)
EAS is a network that aims to support european athletes in combining high performance sport and education.
The World Olympians Association
The World Olympians Association unites Olympians from around the world regardless of their age, sport, nationality or other definitive measure and involves them in the promotion of the values and virtues that make the Olympic Movement.
The IOC Medical Commission
The IOC Medical Commision was initially set up in order to establish an anti-doping structure and today it covers anti-doping issues as well as protecting athletes' rights and equality. The Commission's websites include news, consensus papers and The Olympic Movement Medical Code Protect, respect, and equality.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
The international independent organisation WADA was established in 1999 by sports organisations and international governments to coordinate and monitor the fight against doping.
