Husain Al-Musallam, an ANOC official, and Ji Suk Chae, iSR Foundation secretary general, represented the respective parties at the signing. 

The iSR Foundation is a non-profit organisation based in Seoul "that seeks to advance academic research, policy analysis, and professional development of sports diplomacy in Korea and abroad."

For a period of three years, ANOC will be working in collaboration with the iSR Academy, which is designed to help career transition for the top sports' elite and retiring athletes.

The Academy aims to achieve its goal by offering one year of language and work training education, combining the International Olympic Committee's Athletes Career Programme, which similarly supports athletes while they prepare for and go through their career transition.

The programme is scheduled to begin in June, with students from developing countries across the globe set to be recruited from March onwards.

Husain Al-Musallam, Olympic Council of Asia director general, attended the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement ©Getty Images



Olympians, medallists from the Asian Games, All-Africa Games and World Championships, as well as those recommended by National Olympic Committees (NOCs) or sport governing bodies, are all eligible for admission.

The Academy is also applicable to all those with a Bachelor's degree or higher (in any field), a sufficient command of both spoken and written English, and potential and passion for sport to work in any sport-related field.

Further information on the Academy, can be found by clicking here.

The 2nd Asian Athletes' Forum, taking place at the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) headquarters, began yesterday and is scheduled to finish tomorrow. 

The primary aim of the Forum is to update the OCA's 45 NOCs on recent developments and initiatives.

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