On 7 May, World Aquatics hosted an informative webinar focusing on the essential role of Athletes' Committees (AC) within National Federations. The webinar provided valuable insights into the Athletes' Committee Toolkit, a comprehensive resource designed to assist athletes and National Federations in establishing and managing successful Athletes' Committees. 

The online event, moderated by renowned sports broadcaster, James Pearce, saw 157 attendees gather from across the globe, including athletes and representatives from National Federations. The engaging discussion featured prominent speakers, including World Aquatics President Husain Al-Musallam and World Aquatics Executive Director Brent Nowicki, who emphasised the pivotal role of athletes in shaping the future of aquatics sports. 

“The Athletes' Committee Toolkit is an invaluable resource that empowers athletes and National Federations to champion the interests of athletes within aquatics sports," said Husain Al-Musallam, President of World Aquatics. "We are very pleased to have facilitated this engaging discussion as we continue to encourage collaboration and knowledge-sharing among our global community.” 

Access the Athletes Committee Toolkit HERE

During the webinar, attendees had the opportunity to delve into the intricacies of setting up and running an Athletes' Committee, as well as learning from the experiences of distinguished World Aquatics Athletes' Committee members. World Aquatics' own Athletes Committee members Alia Atkinson (Chair), Ferry Weertman, and Bill May, shared valuable insights and first-hand accounts of their roles within different organisations, highlighting the importance of athlete representation in the aquatics community. 

The webinar underlined World Aquatics' commitment to promoting transparency, inclusivity, and an athlete-first approach to governance. By equipping athletes and National Federations with the necessary tools and guidance, World Aquatics aims to strengthen the voice and influence of athletes in shaping the future of their respective sports. 

About World Aquatics 

Image Source: World Aquatics Athletes' Committee Chairperson Alia Atkinson of Jamaica competing on the Swimming World Cup (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

Driven by the vision of a world united by water for health, life and sport, World Aquatics is the international governing body for aquatic sports. Founded in 1908, World Aquatics is an independent organisation formed of 210 National Federations and five Continental Organisations.  

World Aquatics oversees six aquatic sports – swimming, water polo, diving, artistic swimming, open water swimming and high diving – and is recognised as the leading global authority of these sports by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).