Updated: January 2026
1. AC-Mission
The Athletes’ Commission is established and maintained by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) in accordance with the IWF Constitution and Bylaws and the IOC Guidelines relating to Athletes’ Commissions. The mission of the Commission is to liaise between the global athlete community recognized as a primary stakeholder and the IWF organization, to represent the interests of all athletes and ensure the longevity of weightlifting within the Olympic Movement.
2. Objectives/Function
2.1. The Athletes’ Commission is a consultative body of the IWF and serves as a link between all athletes who practice the sport of weightlifting and the IWF.
2.2. The Athletes’ Commission ensures that the collective viewpoints of athletes are considered at the governance level within the IWF.
2.3. The Athletes’ Commission promotes respect for the rights of athletes within the IWF and provides related recommendations.
2.4. The Athletes shall be represented by two (2) representatives’ members from the Athletes’ commission to serve on three (3) IWF committees recognised as members and shall have one (1) vote each.
2.5. The Commission shall forward its recommendations and proposals to the IWF Executive Board following internal discussion and approval by a majority of its present members.
2.6. The Commission shall serve as an effective platform for representing the views and voices of athletes by advising the Executive Board on matters concerning the sport of weightlifting.
2.7. The Commission shall liaise with the IOC Athletes’ Commission and the WADA Athlete Council and represented at the IOC International Athletes’ Forum or the WADA Annual forum.
2.8. The Commission shall provide athlete perspectives to each of the IWF’s standing committees and commissions. Furthermore, it shall be consulted for majority agreement on all reform, governance, and qualification documents created between election cycles.
2.9. Commission board representatives shall be accessible and visible at all major IWF events (Senior, Junior, and Youth), ensuring direct engagement and facilitating qualitative studies from IWF athletes and members.
2.10. The Athletes’ Commission shall be informed of all technical findings and visits for ongoing or upcoming IWF events to assess and ensure facility standards meet athletes’ needs.
2.11. Athletes’ Declaration: The Commission will work alongside the IWF, including the Executive Board, to adopt and uphold the Athletes’ Rights and Responsibilities Declaration.
3. Composition
3.1. The Commission shall consist of no more than eleven (11) members, with a balanced representation of male and female members. Representation shall include members from all continents, based on the eligibility criteria outlined in section 3.4.a.
3.2. Term of Office
Members shall serve a term of four (4) years aligned with IWF constitution or less, if filling a casual vacancy. The Chair and other members may be re-elected if they continue to meet the conditions listed in 3.4.a.
3.3. The Commission election process shall be conducted in accordance with the IWF Constitution and Bylaws. Members must be elected by their peers during IWF Senior World Events and overseen by an electoral manager appointed by IWF governance.
3.4. Eligibility Criteria
3.4.a. Members shall be elected/appointed based on the following eligibility criteria:
• Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application.
• Applicants should be athletes who, at the time of their election or nomination, are currently competing at the international level or have done so within the previous four years.
• Must have a clean anti-doping record (i.e., no sanction under the World Anti-Doping Code and no ongoing result management case).
• Must have represented their Member Federation in at least one of the following:
o At least one (1) of the two (2) most-recent Olympic Games.
o At least one (1) of the two (2) most-recent Youth Olympic Games.
o At least one (1) of the two (2) most-recent Youth, Junior, or Senior World Championships.
o The most-recent Continental Championships or Games
• Must have a minimum of conversational and reading proficiency in English, the official working language of the IWF
3.5. Chair position – The Commission members shall elect their Chair from among members who been elected to the Commission by their peers, and the Chair may serve in this role for up to four years, after which the term of office may be renewed.
3.6. Two (2) additional Commission members, alongside the Chair, shall be appointed to the IWF Executive Board with voting rights, in accordance with the IWF Constitution (Item 16.2.g). The three (3) representatives must reflect gender balance. Those with limited English proficiency may attend with a translator at their own expense, subject to IWF Board approval.
3.7. In the event that a seat on the commission becomes vacant, or a member is omitted, an athlete commission election shall be initiated for the following IWF senior world championship to elect a new member to fill the vacant position.
(This process shall be conducted with the support of the IWF secretariat team and overseen by a panel composed of the Commission Chair and two (2) additional members.)
4. Meetings and Obligation
4.1. All Commission meetings shall be convened solely by the Chair and/or the First Vice Chair, with the support of the IWF Secretariat.
4.1.a. A minimum of two meetings shall be held annually. Athlete Commission board members shall present recommendations to the IWF Executive Board, oversee developmental changes, and report back to the full Commission.
4.2. In the absence of the Chair and/or Vice Chair, an emergency meeting may proceed under the supervision of IWF President / Secretary general and supported by appointed IWF legal advisor and secretariat, until new appointments are made.
4.3. Quorum for Commission meetings shall be considered a simple majority (more than half plus one) of the voting members.
4.4. External individuals and advisors may be invited to attend meetings entirety or partially, with prior approval from Commission members.
4.5. Following Article- 4.2 – Henceforth, athlete commission may invite the IWF President and General Secretary to attend as observers or advisors, but only by invitation.
4.6. The agenda and the working documents, as well as the minutes of the meeting, are prepared by the Secretariat, at the request of the Chair.
4.7. All member must attend all meetings called upon on by the commission. In the event a member is unable to attend this individual must notify the commission chair / IWF secretariat by email.
4.8. Members must be available to represent the athletes voice on minimum 1 (ONE) IWF committee / commission of their chosen and must attend all meeting and report back to the commission.
4.9. Members observed to failed on fulfilling their obligation to the commission shall be reminded of their role by a formal letter and if continued to fail within the role shall be omitted from the commission.
4.10. All meetings will be recorded and transcribed.
5. Athlete Commission Budget
NOTE: TO BE DEFINED AND SUBJECT TO INCLUSION IN IWF ANNUAL BUDGET AND EXECUTIVE BOARD APPROVAL .
Annual Budget assigned to the commission to conduct athlete centred activities during IWF major events
(i.e. creation of AC competition booth to engage with athletes on ground and to cover any other expenses acquired by the commission expenses)
6. Compensation and Expenses
NOTE: SUBJECT TO IWF EXECUTIVE BOARD APPROVAL.
6.1. Each Commission Member shall receive 500 USD for no-more a maximum two (2) meetings annually. If travel is required, IWF shall cover expenses of travel and lodging.
6.2. Members shall be reimbursed for travel, accommodation, and related out-of-pocket expenses, provided valid receipts or proof of payment are submitted to the IWF.
6.3. Commission Members who serve on the IWF Executive Board shall receive the same per diem as other Executive Board members.
6.4. The IWF Secretariat is responsible for processing and administering all payments.
7. Commission Terms of Reference
7.1. The Terms of Reference shall be reviewed and updated every four (4) years upon the appointment of new Commission members. Amendments must be reflected in the IWF Constitution and Bylaws. The newly elected Chair shall also notify the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
NOTE: THE IWF AC T.O.R CANNOT BE AMENDED OR SUPERSEDE PROVISIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION OR THE BY-LAWS