Wrestling Athlete Navid Afkari to be Executed on 9 September 2020 for a Peaceful Public Protest Against the Iranian Regime. Global Athlete demands that the head of Iranian Judiciary and the Iranian Supreme Leader immediately halt plans for the execution of wrestling athlete Navid Afkari scheduled for Wednesday 9 September 2020.

We call on the IOC Athletes’ Commission to abandon the Consultation on Athlete Demonstrations and on the IOC and IPC to immediately rescind Rule 50.2.

Athlete groups demand that the International Paralympic Committee and the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation reinstate all Wheelchair Basketball Athletes who rightfully qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Games.

As a four time Olympian, I am encouraged to see a call to action by athletes to be valued and seen as humans. For years Olympic athletes have been used to fuel a multi-billion-dollar industry while most athletes can barely financially survive. In fact, athletes endure years of personal debt to represent their country. The lack of duty of care when it comes to financial stability and proper long-term health care provided by sporting organizations needs to be addressed and corrected. Athletes can no longer have their needs caste aside.

Independence, Transparency, Accountability and Human Rights Must Drive Change

Athletes can no longer accept that their demands for proper reforms of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) have not been addressed. Time after time, athletes’ calls for change have been cast aside or written off as misinformed, despite the fact that athletes are the primary stakeholders and by far the most impacted group when the status quo persists.

Global Athlete is thrilled with today’s launch of The Athletics Association, an independent Track and Field athlete association that will stand for athletes and provide international independent representation.

Global Athlete calls for the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee to immediately abolish Olympic Charter Rule 50

It has been an incredibly challenging time for athletes and their communities around the world. Global Athlete stands with athletes during this unprecedented time. Below is a recap of our activities and athlete activism over first half of 2020.

In the wake of the tragic killing of George Floyd, along with others who have died at the hands of the Police, I have been asked by many reporters, over the last week, for my for my opinion on the relationship between protests, sport, the Olympics and the role that athletes can play in advocacy for civil rights.