The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Mr. THOMAS BACH appointed Ms. RWEMALIKA FELICITE, the winner of IOC Women and Sports Award for Africa 2016 as new member of Sport and Active Society Commission.
In few weeks ago, Ms. RWEMALIKA FELICITE has been also elected as the First Second Vice President of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee.
The Sport and Active Society Commission (formerly the Sport for All Commission) advises the IOC Session, the IOC Executive Board and the IOC President on all the activities of the Olympic Movement that are related to using sport to improve physical activity in the population, giving access to sport as a right for all, and on engaging in sports activities with a special focus on youth.
Olympic Agenda 2020 reflects the fact that sport is more important in society than ever, and increasing activity and engagement in sport in society should be a key goal of governments and non-governmental agencies throughout the world.
The responsibilities of the Sport and Active Society Commission are to:
- Give input on relevant activities related to the implementation of Olympic Agenda 2020 specifically related to promoting an active life style in society, with a focus on youth;
- Engaging society in sport and work with various parties to build on the sport legacy of the Olympic Games and major events to get the wider community active;
- Facilitate synergies among various organisations, which work to increase the accessibility of sport as a right for all.
The changes to the function and composition of the commissions, which are effected by the IOC President working closely with the IOC Executive Board, also include increases in the number of members from America, Africa and Asia, thus guaranteeing a more global and diverse continental representation.
“These changes are aligned with the implementation of Olympic Agenda 2020 and show that a stronger participation of women and a more diversified continental representation are our top priorities,” said IOC President Bach.
“The diversity of members guarantees interesting and more inclusive discussions and reflects the Olympic Movement’s commitment to universality,” he added.
The review of the scope and composition of the IOC commissions was one of the 40 recommendations of Olympic Agenda 2020, which was approved by the 127th IOC Session in December 2014 in Monaco.