The Forum saw around a hundred athletes in attendance for the day, with the event organised by the CNOSF National Commission, which had been set up in 2013.

Estanguet, a member of the International Olympic Committee's Athletes' Commission, and Severino introducing four topics of discussion for the athletes, including the theme of "an athlete's life", which concerned knowing their rights, rules and regulations, the athletes' statutes and dual careers.

Additionally, the Forum discussed medical information on anti-doping, how to best utilise social media and maintaining good relationships with members of the media and how athletes could manage their image to enhance their careers.

The ambition of the forum was to provide athletes with the opportunity to meet fellow athletes that they would not regularly meet and allow them to exchange information and experiences that could benefit them in their sporting and non-sporting lives.

Triple Olympic champion Tony Estanguet is one of the co-chairs of the commission ©Getty Images



CNOSF Secretary general Jean-Michel Brun opened the Forum, which also saw athletes take part in nine separate workshops.

The workshops covered a variety of themes that may prove to be important to elite level athletes, as they were designed to link to the before, during and retirement stages of a having a sports career, aiming to offer them further guidance.

The event is another example of the growing importance of Athletes' Commissions in the Olympic Movement, as they are helping to protect the athletes and provide them with a voice in political discussion about their sport, it is claimed. 

This was reflected by the attendance of the CNOSF President Denis Masseglia, who joined athletes for the Closing Ceremony.

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