THE Athletes Commission publicist Thato Makhakhe says the recently established body will hold elections after the Tokyo Olympic Games scheduled for July 23 - August 8 in Japan.
sports
Feb. 5, 2021
TEBOHO JAFETA
2 min read
Athletes commission to hold elections after Olympics
Lesotho star boxer Moroke Mokhotho (in blue) at the 2016 Rio Olympics
Makhakhe told Metro that the elections will be held in line with the Lesotho National Olympics Committee (LNOC)’s own polls.
The Chairman of the commission, Lekomola Moholo noted that although the body was formed in 2017, it only became operational in 2020, due to unavoidable circumstances.
“We are a structure of the LNOC, so our elections are in held line with their own polls, hence we will elect another committee after the Olympic Games,” he said.
Moholo said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes Commission structure guides that a national commission should be formed by athletes who have competed nationally while the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA)’s Athletes Commission should be formed by athletes who have competed at the continental level.
He added: “The IOC Athletes Commission on the other hand is composed only of athletes who have competed at the Olympic Games.
“In our commission, I qualify for the ANOCA Athletics Commission with top local boxer Moroke Mokhotho, who is the only athlete who qualifies for the IOC Athletes Commission, after competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil. Mokhotho can be nominated to contest for the IOC Athletes Commission position during elections.”
Makhakhe said most players train hard at the eleventh hour ahead of international competitions and rest throughout the time.
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“That is why our athletes always fail in international competitions. The excessive training before the competitions is not good for them, both mentally and physically.
“Federations leaders should communicate to athletes well in advance to give them enough time to prepare. A lot of things need to be prepared ahead of international campaigns including attire and stipends, so with limited time set aside for preparations, such important aspects are normally overlooked, which frustrates the athletes and their technical teams,” he said.
According to Makhakhe, one of their roles as the Athletes Commission is to advocate for athletes’ inclusion during the continental or international mother body annual general meetings so that athletes’ voices can be heard.
He noted that federations have the tendency to leave athletes representation behind during such meetings.
“Athletes Commission held a meeting with the federations’ leadership and athletes in Maseru in November 2020. It was a one-day meeting where the athletes managed to freely voice their challenges and complaints to us. We have so received many complaints from the athletes in various federations as we speak,” he also said.
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