Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) member, Women’s Sport Committee chairwoman and Bahrain Table Tennis Association president Shaikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa has been re-elected as member of the Athletes’ Entourage Commission at the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
This was the third time for Shaikha Hayat to be elected for this panel as per decision by IOC president Thomas Bach to BOC. Shaikha Hayat is one of 30 members of the commission, being headed by former pole vault champion Sergey Bubka of Ukraine.
Shaikha Hayat said she was pleased and proud for this decision and for being part of the IOC family, which she attributed to the significant support of Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman, and BOC president, to sports competencies in Bahrain.
The commission, which comprises all the people associated with the athletes, includes managers, agents, coaches, physical trainers, medical staff, scientists, sports organisations, sponsors, lawyers and any person promoting the athlete’s sporting career, including family members.
Among the responsibilities of the entourage is to act with due diligence and in the best interest of the athlete, and ensure short-term interests will not take precedence over a successful and balanced athletic career and a long-term partnership.
As for the athletes, it’s their responsibility to act responsibly, choosing their entourage members with care and with the exercise of due diligence, and use their best efforts to ensure that any contract is negotiated with fair conditions.