The new Estonian Olympic Committee (EOK) Athletes’ Commission has been elected and met for the first time in Tallinn.
Nine athletes out of a total of 26 nominated candidates were chosen, with Olympic bronze medallist in rowing Allar Raja elected as the new Chair. She played a major role in organising the Team Estonia Sports Forum for athletes previously.
Ms Raja said: “I am very grateful for the responsibility entrusted to me and we must work together. There is a lot of work ahead and we have already shared a lot of good ideas at the first meeting, which we want to start implementing.”
EOK President Urmas Sõõrumaa thanked the previous members of the Athletes’ Commission for their work and wished the new members much success.
President Sõõrumaa said: “It is important that athletes’ representatives are involved in decision-making in sports, as the voice of athletes has been heard in the Estonian Olympic Committee for years. Thanks to the work of the previous Athletes’ Commission, many sub-leagues have included athletes in their decision-making process, and I hope that this will continue. I wish Allar Raja strength and success in leading the Commission and in the Olympic Games!”
The composition of the EOK Athletes’ Committee 2024-2028 is:
Allar Raja (rowing)
Rasmus Mägi (athletics)
Liis Kiviloo (volleyball)
Tanel Kangert (cycling)
Johanna Talihärm (biathlon)
Epp Mäe (wrestling)
Kätlin Riidebach (wheelchair curling)
Mattias Kuusik (judo)
Liis Rosenthal (bodybuilding and fitness)
Athletes who have been part of the Estonian national team for the past four years, who stand for the principles of fair play and who have never been punished for violating anti-doping rules can apply to the EOK Athletes’ Commission.
The EOK Athletes’ Commission for 2020-2024 included chairman Gerd Kanter (athletics), Allar Raja (rowing), Kert Toobal (volleyball), Ott Kiivikas (bodybuilding and fitness), Saskia Alusalu (speed skating), Johanna Talihärm (biathlon), Liis Kiviloo (volleyball), Matz Topkin (Para swimming) and Annika Sakkarias (athletics).
More information here.
