Prince Albert II of Monaco to open inaugural World Olympians Forum

Prince Albert II of Monaco will open the inaugural World Olympians Forum ©Getty Images

International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Prince Albert II of Monaco will officially open the World Olympians Forum (WOF) in Moscow next month, it has been announced.

The event, which will be held from October 20 to 22, has been established by World Olympians Association (WOA) in partnership with the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and will be attended by IOC President Thomas Bach.

The aim of the forum is to celebrate Olympism and the achievements of Olympians around the world, with all 143 National Olympians Associations brought together.

A host of leading figures from the Russian sports world and legendary Olympians will be joined by senior executives and opinion formers in the Olympic Movement for the first-ever edition of the event in the Russian capital.

“It will be a great pleasure to officially open the inaugural World Olympians Forum,” Prince Albert II of Monaco said.

“I’m looking forward to gathering with my colleagues from the Olympic Family to discuss and debate the key issues concerning Olympians.

“Olympians are the greatest ambassadors of Olympic values and they are at the heartbeat of the Movement.

“It’s vital that we look after them properly throughout their sporting careers and beyond and I’m sure that the very first WOF will provide an excellent platform for us to put the welfare of Olympians at the top of the agenda.”

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach will be in attendance at the World Olympians Forum ©Getty Images

The forum itself will feature debates and discussions, as well as keynote speeches, networking sessions and working seminars.

Joël Bouzou, the WOA President who won Olympic bronze for France in the modern pentathlon at Los Angeles 1984, hailed the announcement ahead of the event in Moscow.

“We are delighted that Prince Albert will officially open the World Olympians Forum - I know that as an Olympian and esteemed leader in the Olympic Movement he will make a great contribution to the inaugural WOF,” he said.

“This historic event will be a fantastic opportunity to bring together all National Olympians Associations to promote the core values of Olympism and discuss the key topics relevant to the WOA mission of Service to Olympians and Service to Society.”