GLOBAL ATHLETE SURVEY RESULTS:
ATHLETE RIGHTS, WELFARE AND REPRESENTATION

Results from Global Athlete Survey on Athlete Rights, Welfare and Representation - February 2020

As a part of Global Athlete’s listening exercise, a survey was launched in September 2019. The survey resulted in 491 Athletes from 48 countries representing all continents from 40 summer and 16 winter sports providing feedback on athlete rights, welfare and representation.

A summary of the survey findings can be found below, as well as the original media release of the results in February 2020.

Standout Findings

  • Athlete Welfare

    Verbal abuse, unfair team selection and the fear of retribution are the top concerns of athletes.

  • Athlete Compensation

    Athletes do not receive the appropriate amount of compensation from the IPC, the IOC and National Federations followed by governments & NOC/NPCs.

  • Athlete Representation

    There is a need for collective independent athlete representation and athlete committees should be independent of sport federations.

  • Athlete Welfare

    Athletes require more support for mental health, sport career transition and ongoing medical care as well as retirement funds and financial planning.

  • Athlete Representation

    Athletes should have 50% of voting rights within sporting organizations on rules that are being developed that affect them.

  • Athlete Compensation

    The IOC, IPC and International Federations should pay athletes for attending their Games.

24 February 2020: As a part of Global Athlete’s listening exercise, a survey was launched in September 2019. The survey resulted in 491 Athletes from 48 countries representing all continents from 40 summer and 16 winter sports providing feedback on athlete rights, welfare and representation. 

Of the athletes surveyed 44% were actively competing with sport as their primary profession, 31% competing but not as a primary profession and 25% of the athletes were retired, 31% were Olympic Athletes, 8% Paralympic, 46% International level, 15% competed nationally.

Key outcomes of the survey included:

Athlete Welfare:

  • Athletes rights are somewhat respected by the Paralympic Movement followed by the International Olympic Committee and the International Federations but more needs to be done.

  • More work supporting athletes’ rights is required by sporting organizations.

  • Verbal abuse, unfair team selection and the fear of retribution are the top concerns of athletes.

  • More work needs to be done to offer athletes a safe place to report concerns.

  • More support is required for mental health, sport career transition and ongoing medical care as well as retirement funds and financial planning.

  • Para-athletes want to see classification rules improved. 

Athlete Compensation:

  • Athletes do not receive the appropriate amount of compensation from the International Paralympic Committee, the International Olympic Committee and National Federations followed by governments, National Olympic and Paralympic Committees.

  • Athletes should have the right to build and sell their own brands at National Competitions and at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

  • International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee and International Federations should pay athletes for attending their Games.

Athlete Representation:

  • Athletes have a low level of representation.

  • Athletes should have 50% of voting rights within sporting organizations on rules that are being developed that affect them.

  • There is a need for collective independent athlete representation.

  • Athlete committees should be independent of sport federations.

Global Athlete would like to thank the athletes, researchers, FairSport and Play the Game for their contribution to the survey.

— End —

View original release of survey here

Other Research & Surveys

  • As a part of Global Athlete’s listening exercise, a survey was launched in September 2019. The survey resulted in 491 Athletes from 48 countries representing all continents from 40 summer and 16 winter sports providing feedback on national and international anti-doping programs.

    Click here to read.

  • In 2020, Global Athlete in partnership with Ryerson University and the Ted Rogers School of Management published the results of a study on Olympic commercialization and player compensation. The object of the study is to find solutions to improve the lives of Olympic athletes and the well-being of the Olympic movement.

    Click here to read.