Husein Alireza and Valent Sinkovic proposed for IOC Athletes’ Commission

Two rowers – Husein Alireza of Saudi Arabia and Valent Sinkovic for Croatia – will be aiming for election to the International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission at next year’s Paris Olympic Games

Proposed by their respective National Olympic Committees, the two athletes will be aiming to be elected in a vote by the athletes at the Paris Olympic Village at the end of next year’s Olympic Games.

Croatia’s Valent Sinkovic is a two-time Olympic Champion in the men’s double and the men’s pair with his brother Martin. He won his 50^th international medal for his country earlier this year, which him one the most accomplished Croatian athletes ever. At this year’s World Rowing Championships, the Sinkovic brothers won a silver medal in the men’s double sculls, and qualified the boat for the Paris Olympics.

Valent Sinkovic has been a strong advocate for the sport of Rowing all over the world, and one of its top figures for the last 10 years.

Husein Alireza of Saudi Arabia represented his country at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, when he became the first Saudi rower to compete at an Olympic Games. He reached the quarterfinals and finishing a creditable 24th overall in the men’s single sculls. His hard work was also rewarded when he was given with the honour of being joint flag bearer for Saudi Arabia, alongside sprinter Yasmeen Al Dabbagh.

Alireza was also involved in a climate action campaign ahead of COP26 in Glasgow in November last year, and does motivational speaking on the topic of resilience. He has not yet qualified as a rower for the Paris Olympics.

The IOC Athletes’ Commission serves as a link between the athletes and the IOC. In order to achieve this, the IOC Athletes’ Commission has the leading role with athletes and with the Olympic Movement. The Mission of the IOC Athletes’ Commission is to ensure that the athletes’ viewpoint remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement decisions.