IOC Athlete Committee Seen Through the Candidacy of 'Golf Queen' Park In-bee

Up to 23 Members, One per Country, 8-Year Term
Equal Status and Privileges as IOC Members
Direct Athlete Voting, Only Top 4 Elected

This is a surprise candidate registration.

It is about the "Golf Queen" Park In-bi. She has thrown her hat in the ring for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes' Commission. Park In-bi stated, "Since winning the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, I have held the intention of becoming an IOC Athletes' Commission member and have been preparing seriously," adding, "Based on my Olympic experience, I want to engage in various activities that help current and future athletes." Park In-bi is competing for one spot as the Korean representative for the IOC Athletes' Commission alongside volleyball player Kim Yeon-koung, shooter Jin Jong-oh, taekwondo athlete Lee Dae-hoon, and badminton player Kim So-young.

‘Golf Queen’ Park In-bee is challenging for the IOC Athletes' Commission. Park In-bee is smiling brightly after winning the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The IOC Athletes' Commission system was established in 1981. It consists of up to 23 members. Twelve members?eight from the Summer Games and four from the Winter Games?are elected from athletes who have competed on the Olympic stage. The IOC President appoints up to 11 members, considering balance in religion, gender, and sports. The term of office is eight years for all members. During the Olympics, four members from the Summer Games and two from the Winter Games are elected. Each country is limited to one member. Once elected, no other athlete from that country can become an IOC Athletes' Commission member for eight years.

The IOC Athletes' Commission members act as "sports diplomats," serving as a liaison between the IOC and active athletes. They have nearly the same qualifications as IOC members and hold authority such as deciding Olympic host cities. They are ambassadors dispatched by the IOC and are not bound by any country, organization, or corporation. When traveling abroad, they receive VIP treatment. They do not require visas when entering IOC member countries. When attending the IOC General Assembly, they are provided with a dedicated car and guides by the host country.

Korea has produced two IOC Athletes' Commission members. Moon Dae-sung, a gold medalist in taekwondo at the 2004 Athens Olympics, became Korea's first IOC Athletes' Commission member at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He was the only Asian IOC Athletes' Commission member. After Moon Dae-sung, Yoo Seung-min, the men's singles gold medalist in table tennis at the Athens Olympics and president of the Korea Table Tennis Association, was elected to the IOC Athletes' Commission at the Rio Olympics. He won against Jin Jong-oh and weightlifter Jang Mi-ran. Yoo Seung-min received 1,544 votes in the final election, ranking second among 23 global candidates. Until Lee Ki-heung, president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, was appointed as an IOC member in 2019, Yoo Seung-min was the only Korean IOC member.

Yoo Seung-min, the men's singles gold medalist in table tennis at the 2004 Athens Olympics, is currently the only Korean IOC athlete representative.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, when Yoo Seung-min's eight-year term ends, new Korean athletes will challenge for the IOC Athletes' Commission. On the 4th, after the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee closed nominations for the Paris Olympics IOC Athletes' Commission candidates, an evaluation committee held a closed interview on the 10th at the committee's meeting room in Olympic Parktel, Bangi-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul. The interview was conducted in the usual manner. Each of the five candidates explained their vision one by one before the evaluators and answered their sharp questions.

To ensure fairness, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee formed the evaluation committee with experts both inside and outside the committee. On the 14th at 11 a.m., a senior council meeting will be held to recommend the final candidate. The senior council is a newly established body through amendments to the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee's bylaws last November, aimed at recommending key sports figures to national administrative agencies and government committees and advising on major sports policy issues. Former Korean Sport & Olympic Committee chairman Kim Jeong-gil chairs the council. The nine members include former committee chairmen Park Yong-seong and Kim Jeong-haeng, former presidents of the Korea Sports for All Federation Lee Gang-du and Seo Sang-gi, former vice chairman of the Korean Olympic Committee Jang Chung-sik, former president of the Korea Golf Association Yoon Se-young, Seoul National University emeritus professor of physical education Kwon Yoon-bang, and Cheon Shin-il, chairman of Sejung.

After the senior council's recommendation, the Athletes' Commission will approve the final candidate on the 16th or 17th. The candidate will be selected comprehensively considering international competition results such as the Olympics, social reputation and contributions, and English communication skills. The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee will notify the IOC of the final candidate in the last week of August. The IOC reviews candidates recommended by each country and selects the final Athletes' Commission members. The election of IOC Athletes' Commission members takes place during each Summer and Winter Olympics. They are elected by direct votes from participating athletes. Only those who rank in the top four become IOC Athletes' Commission members. The winners are announced on the closing ceremony day.

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