COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – In collaboration with the Pan American Sports Organization, the United States Olympic Committee will host the first-ever PASO Continental Athlete Forum in Miami from May 23-25. The U.S. will welcome 52 athletes from 39 of the 41 PASO countries for the three-day meeting, with a goal of providing attendees with the tools needed to enable them to better serve on the board of their National Olympic Committees or athlete commissions within their countries.
“We look forward to welcoming attendees from around the Pan American region to Miami for a collaborative and educational workshop,” USOC CEO Scott Blackmun said. “Through this event, we hope to give athletes the tools to make an even greater impact on the Olympic Movement, both in the Americas and around the world.”
The forum will combine several elements to help equip representatives to better serve their country’s athletes. The workshop will include discussing current topics that directly affect athletes in the Pan American region, sharing tools to improve athlete development, and creating communication networks between the International Olympic Committee, Association of National Olympic Committees and NOCs.
Speakers will include PASO President Dr. Julio Maglione, PASO Athletes’ Commission Chair Alexandra Orlando, IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair Claudia Bokel, ANOC Athletes’ Commission Chair Barbara Kendall and U.S. IOC member Angela Ruggiero.
“We are looking forward to welcoming our athlete representatives from PASO to what will be a resourceful forum centered on empowering our athletes,” Dr. Maglione said. “We’re grateful to the USOC for hosting this important event for PASO.”
Ruggiero, a four-time Olympian, will speak on leadership, and will also serve as a panelist on current global and regional athlete issues. Ruggiero is a four-time Olympic medalist and was elected to the IOC Athletes’ Commission in 2010. This month she was named chief strategy officer of Los Angeles 2024.
The forum will also include a panel discussion on health safety and security of athletes, a presentation on building effective athlete commissions and a breakout session on athlete career programs.
About PASO
The Pan American Sports Organization was established in 1948 and is headquartered in Mexico City. It serves as the overarching organization that serves to further the development of the Olympic Movement, strengthen the bonds among the peoples of the continent through the NOCs of the Americas and contribute to educate youth through sport in a spirit of better understanding, friendship and respect for the environment, contributing thereby to the development of a better and more peaceful world. For more information, visit PASO-ODEPA.org.