Shaikha Hayat named as Entourage Commission

Manama: Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) board member Shaikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa was recently appointed a new member of the Athletes’ Entourage Commission at the International Olympic Committee.

The decision was announced as per letter from IOC President Thomas Bach to BOC, as Shaikha Hayat has become one of the 26 members of the commission, being headed by former pole vault champion Sergey Bubka of Ukraine.

This commission comprises all the people associated with the athletes and 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 responsibilities of the entourage is to act with due diligence and in the best interest of the athlete, short-term interests should 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 to use their best efforts to ensure that any contract is negotiated with fair conditions.

Any breach of the relevant sports organisations’ regulations by a member of the Entourage should be sanctioned.  The sports organisations define the terms of the sanction and the disciplinary procedures.