News

Representatives from more than 100 player associations from around the globe actively participated in the World Athletes Summit which took place on 14/15 November 2011 at the UNI Global Union head office in Nyon (Switzerland).



A large variety of disciplines were represented including baseball, basketball, rugby, cricket, skiing, ice hockey, handball, and football. For the first time in a global forum participants exchanged best practices, established common priorities and resolved to form a steering committee to guide future activities.



Members of UNI Europa Sport PRO played a significant role. The work that has been done in Europe over the past two years provided a foundation for much of the discussion.



This new “independent voice for athletes” stressed the importance of trade unions and collective bargaining as part of the process in recognizing the status of athletes as “normal workers” and their right to equal treatment. Key priorities such as anti-corruption measures, dual careers and the reform of the anti-doping rules were a focus of discussion.



UNI Global Union was represented at the Summit by Philip Jennings (General Secretary), Walter Palmer (Head of UNI Sport) and Amel Djemail (Policy officer, UNI Europa Sport).



This historic conference was a break through in world sport. An independent voice for athletes was established and the Nyon Declaration (link), approved unanimously, sends a clear message to world sport organizations and governments that athletes must be at the center of sport governance.