TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK LONDON

TOP Qatari shooter Nasser bin Saleh Al Attiyah - who won a bronze in the skeet competition at the London Olympic Games last week – is aiming for a spot on the fourmember IOC Athletes Commission.

Attiyah, a highly popular sports figure in the Middle East for his rallying achievements that includes the 2011 Dakar-Rally title, is one of four international athletes trying their luck at the elections.

“This is very important to me,” Attiyah said pointing to a badge of IOC Athletes Commission. “I want to be part of this commission and hopefully I would be one of the four new athletes on the Commission,” he added.

Four athletes out of 21 bidding candidates will be elected to the IOC Athletes’ Commission at the Olympic Games to represent the athletes within the Olympic Movement for an eight-year term of office.

“The athletes have their own Commission whose role is to make sure their interests are protected. I am very interested to be part of this set up as I have been an international sports personality for over two decades now,” the 41- year-old Qatari explained.

“If I am elected, I will try to ensure I provide all the input that I can for a better future for athletes and the Olympic Games,” Attiyah added.

The results will be announced on August 9 at 2pm at the Village Media Centre in the London Olympic Village. After approval by the IOC Session on August 12, the four elected athletes will become IOC members for an eight-year term of office.

In 1981, the then-IOC President, Juan Antonio Samaranch, created the IOC Athletes’ Commission. Its creation was confirmed by Rule 21 of the Olympic Charter.

The Commission, which meets once or twice a year, serves as the link between active athletes and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Commission represents athletes within the Olympic Movement and also upholds the rights and obligations of the athletes.