Athletes have always been at the heart of the Olympic Movement, but it wasn't until the formation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes' Commission in 1981 that they were officially given a voice. Led by its chairman, who sits on the IOC Executive Board, the Commission represents the athletes within the Olympic Movement and upholds their rights and obligations. THE VOICE OF THE ATHLETESFOUR ATHLETES WILL BE ELECTED TO THE IOC ATHLETES' COMMISSION AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN LONDON TO REPRESENT THE ATHLETES WITHIN THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT FOR AN EIGHT-YEAR TERM OF OFFICE. OLYMPIC REVIEW INTRODUCES THE 21 CANDIDATESAll athletes participating at the London 2012 Olympic Games are eligible to vote for four of the 21 candidates running for election to the IOC Athletes' Commission, with current members Hicham El Guerrouj, Rania Elwani, Frank Fredericks (current chairman) and Jan Zelezny all ending their terms. Each voter will be asked to select four candidates from four different sports to ensure a varied representation from the Olympic sports programme ? 24 OLYMPIC REVIEW IOC ATHLETES' COMMISSION

OLYMPIC REVIEW 25IOC ATHLETES' COMMISSION