The purpose of the WWR Athlete Council is to act as the collective voice for all wheelchair rugby athletes within WWR.
The Athlete Council will aim to enrich the athlete experience by creating a safe space for athletes to bring their questions, comments, and concerns forward.
The Athlete Council advocates on behalf of the athletes to ensure the athlete perspective is heard and actively considered by the WWR Board and WWR Working Groups in their decision-making process.
The Athlete Council aims to be a representation of the current cohort of athletes and as such the Athlete Council are seeking male, female and non-binary representatives.
We are currently seeking athlete representatives from the following Zones:
Asia- Oceania: 2 representatives
Americas: 2 representatives
Europe: 3 representatives
As a member of the Athlete Council your role is to:
- Attend Athlete Council meetings – It is the aim of the Athlete council to meet 3 to 4 times a year, with one of those meetings being an open athlete forum (to be held in the future once the Athlete council is established). Meetings will be conducted electronically.
- Bring athlete concerns and views to the attention of the Athlete Council for discussion and action.
- Participate in one of the four main working groups of WWR in order to present the views and positions of athletes in regard to current or future programs, policies and procedures.
- Classification Working Group
- Technical Working Group
- Development Working Group
- Competitions Working Group
- The Athlete Council aims to create a safe space where Wheelchair Rugby athletes from around the world feel comfortable raising ideas, issues, concerns, and problems to help make the sport of wheelchair rugby better.
- Provide feedback and suggestions to WWR Board and working groups on all matters relating to Wheelchair Rugby including and not limited to doping and other integrity matters, eligibility, classification, equipment, officiating, rules, athlete welfare and more.
- Actively engage with international athletes within your Zone to gather and disseminate feedback to relevant Groups and the WWR Board of Directors.
- Direct athlete concerns and views to the Athlete Council for discussion and action.
In accordance with WWR Bylaw 7 athlete eligibility is defined as follows. There is also an opportunity to co-opt positions if you are interested and don’t feel that you meet the eligibility criteria.
6.4. Eligibility
6.4.1. In addition to any other requirements specified in the WWR Statutes and Bylaws, to be eligible to be elected as the Chair, or to be appointed as a Competition Zone Representative Member, of the WWR Athletes’ Council, an individual must meet the following requirements:
6.4.2. The individual must be an eligible wheelchair rugby athlete under the current WWR athlete classification rules for the Paralympic discipline of the sport; and
6.4.3. The individual must have participated as a team member of a national Wheelchair Rugby team in a WWR championship event, fully authorised event, or Paralympic Games:
- a) in the four calendar years preceding the appointment, if they are not an incumbent member of the WWR Athletes’ Council; or
- b) in the eight calendar years preceding their appointment if they are an incumbent member of the WWR Athletes’ Council.
For more information or to apply to be a representative of your respective region, please contact office@worldwheelchair.rugby
