As she prepares for her last event in her current role at Milano Cortina 2026, Emma Terho looks back on her final year as IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair, including the election of a new IOC President and the latest edition of the International Athletes’ Forum.
Dear athletes,
As we head towards a new year and attention turns to Milano Cortina 2026, I look ahead with great excitement for what’s to come – even though my tenure as IOC AC Chair is coming to an end.
With President Kirsty Coventry leading the IOC into a new era, I can’t wait to see how the Olympic Movement advances – particularly for you, the athletes – under her leadership.
For now, though, I want to reflect on the last 12 months, which have brought some exciting developments.
A new direction
The election of President Coventry in March was significant for many reasons.
First, she created history by becoming the first woman and the first African to lead the IOC. Second, not only is Kirsty a former athlete and a two-time Olympic gold medallist, she is also an experienced athlete representative, having been a member of our Commission from 2013 to 2021 and Chair for the final three of those years.
As someone who lived the life of a top-level athlete before going on to make such an impact for her fellow athletes off the field of play, President Coventry is an outstanding person to take the Olympic Movement forward.
Her desire to ensure the athletes’ voice is heard has already been shown through the “Fit for the Future” consultation, which many of you will have taken part in. Your feedback will prove vital for President Coventry as she unveils the latest strategic roadmap for the IOC in 2026.
Our support for you
In addition to ensuring a positive athlete experience during the Olympic Games, one of my main goals as Chair has been to ensure we are providing the support you need off the field of play. I am happy that, in 2025, we have been able to advance in this area:
The Athlete365 community continues to grow, now with more than 205,000 Olympians, elite athletes and entourage members around the world
51 athletes took part in the Broadcast Training Programme and Olympic Commentary Training with Olympic Broadcasting Services, with many set to take up paid positions at Milano Cortina 2026
29 Athlete365 Career+ workshops were delivered and 19 new educators were trained to ensure we are providing this support in a range of countries and languages
The Athlete365 Business Accelerator reached nearly 1,000 athletes worldwide, with 50 selected to receive one-to-one mentorship
Eight more athletes received full IOC scholarships to take part in two Innovation in Action programmes at IMD Business School
We launched three new Athlete365 Learning courses: Start your e-commerce journey with Alibaba.com and Power Up Your Future
Stronger together
In June, the 12th edition of the International Athletes’ Forum (IAF) demonstrated the growing strength of our global network as we welcomed more than 400 athlete representatives to Lausanne.
During two days of panel discussions, workshops and networking opportunities, we announced that there are now 200 National Olympic Committees with their own athletes’ commissions – an incredible milestone.
My personal highlights were the many discussions with athlete representatives from all over the world, as well as my fireside chat with President Coventry – who reflected on her extraordinary journey from being a young girl inspired by the Olympic Games to becoming IOC President – and an emotional final Q&A session with now-Honorary President Thomas Bach.
We also had a surprise appearance from tennis legend Rafael Nadal, updates on athlete support and the athlete experience at upcoming Olympic Games, and six expert-led parallel sessions on important topics like anti-doping, mental health and sustainability.
Meeting so many passionate athlete representatives from all over the globe always makes these forums so special, and the 2025 edition will live long in the memory for me.
End of an era
The IOC AC has been a massive part of my life for the last eight years, and even more so since 2021, when I was elected Chair.
I’m immensely proud of our group and the work we’ve done together, from refining and improving the athlete experience at the Olympic Games to growing the network of athlete representatives and expanding our support for you.
A particularly special moment for me was Paris 2024, where athlete-driven initiatives such as the Mind Zone, the Champions Park medal reallocations and the family space were tangible evidence of the impact that we can have.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank all the athletes I have had the pleasure of meeting as part of this role, and every single athlete representative around the world for all the work you do – your work is very meaningful for the future of sport, and you’ve made my time as IOC AC Chair a real joy and privilege.
A busy finale
My work in this role isn’t quite done yet, however, with a busy January in store as we make the final preparations for Milano Cortina 2026.
Together with our Vice-Chairs, we have been working to ensure a smooth transition for the next leadership of our Commission, which I have no doubt will be great. As Abhinav, Astrid, Hong and I prepare to step down from our roles on the IOC AC, please be sure to familiarise yourself with the 11 candidates and vote in the election. After the results are announced on 19 February, the Commission will then elect a new Chair.
For those of you gearing up to compete, don’t miss our Get Ready Pack, designed specifically to ensure you have the best experience possible at the Games.
As always, keep an eye on Athlete365 for the latest news before, during and after the Games, including some inspiring stories from your fellow athletes who are making their mark on Olympic history in Italy.
Lastly, and for the final time, I’d like to wish everyone the very best for the holiday season – I hope you can get some rest ahead of what promises to be a bumper 2026!
