Three thousand athletes part of IOC Athlete Career Programme

Three thousand athletes in over 30 countries so far have taken advantage of the IOC Athlete Career Programme, offered in collaboration with Adecco. The programme delivered career development training and job placements, facilitating the integration of athletes into the labour market both during and at the end of their elite sporting careers. The IOC and Adecco today announced the extension of this programme until 2012. “The IOC recognises the value that these athletes bring to the world through their dedication to sport on a global stage. We were proud to first provide assistance to them with the launch of the Athlete Career Programme in 2005, and we are pleased to announce the expansion and strengthening of the Programme with Adecco,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge.

Advice, coaching and training
“Top athletes are passionate about their particular sport and dedicated to being the best in the world. They regularly represent their countries at events around the globe,” said Dieter Scheiff, CEO of Adecco. “We provide advice, coaching and training to prepare athletes from all over the world for a flying start to their career after sport.”

Duty of the IOC
An athlete who has achieved the status as one of the best in the world often dedicates his time exclusively to sport. This results in a unique set of life experiences that provide some important assets in a CV. One of the main tasks of the programme is to bring forward these assets, to prepare athletes for a more successful transition and to connect them with leadership companies around the world. The IOC Athlete Career Programme will continue to increase its support of Olympic athletes around the world through the cooperation of the International Olympic Committee, National Olympic Committees, International Sport Federations and Adecco.