Doha, Qatar – 1 February 2015: Claudia Bokel, Chair of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Athlete’s Commission, led a four-hour workshop in Doha on January 31st aimed at developing athlete’s career pathways following retirement.
The workshop, co-hosted by the IOC and Qatar Olympic Academy (QOA), saw the participation of over 40 Qatari athletes from numerous National Federations, including Qatari sporting hero and Olympic medalist in Shooting, Nasser al-Attiyah.
President of the QOA and Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee, H.E. Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said in his opening speech at the workshop,
"We are honored to have Claudia Bokel with us in Doha today and we are sure that our athletes can benefit tremendously from her own experiences in transitioning from a professional athlete into a post-retirement career. The IOC’s Athlete Career Programme is a fantastic initiative and we are so grateful that our athletes have had the opportunity to take part in this workshop.
"We are fully committed to our athletes at all levels of their career, not only while they are competing. Our athletes have a wealth of experience that should be utilized to benefit our up and coming athletes. They are an extremely valuable resource which should not be taken for granted as they have a lot to offer."
The IOC’s Athlete Career Programme was launched in 2005 and aims to help elite and Olympic athletes successfully manage the difficult transition from sport to a new career through professional development and job placement. This workshop, co-hosted by the QOA, focused on three key areas; education, life skills and employment. Claudia Bokel, a former World Champion in Fencing and Olympic silver medalist, also held a lively Question and Answer session with the athletes. Speaking about the Programme, Bokel said:
"I am delighted to be here in Doha and lead this workshop, which is in line with the goals of the IOC. Athletes should not be placed into a single mold but should instead transition from a career in professional sports to the workforce and develop their skills accordingly. Although my dream of a gold medal in the 2006 Olympics was unrealized, my new dream now is to help others and ensure that this program succeeds."
Executive Director of the Qatar Olympic Academy, Ibrahim al-Jefiri, said,
"We are very pleased with the outcome of the workshop and we are sure that our athletes have benefitted in terms of career planning. As academics, it is our duty to ensure our athletes have access to such high-level knowledge sharing and we are very pleased with the progress made today."
Founded in 2006, the QOA is a member of the International Olympic Academy and offers professional educational programs related to sports, the first academy in the MENA region to do so. The QOA’s ultimate goal is to become a leading academy for sports and Olympic education locally, regionally, and internationally. In October 2014, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) signed an agreement with the QOA to enable the Academy to provide academic and technical training sessions for coaches, referees, specialists and technicians from across Asia. The agreement also enables Asian athletes to train at the QOA and its affiliated world-class facilities.
Nasser al-Attiyah, Olympic bronze medalist in Shooting and two-time Dakar Rally winner and said,
"I’m very grateful for the opportunity to take part in such a useful workshop and I’m thankful to the Qatar Olympic Academy for the opportunity. It was informative and vital as athletes need to be prepared to develop themselves past their sporting career."
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