Our story

The British Elite Athletes Association was formed as the British Athletes Commission in January 2004 by a group of athletes looking to provide their peers with a representative body.

Rower Guin Batten and swimmer Marc Woods launched the organisation and pentathlete Kate Allenby was appointed its first Chair.

Other early figures included Kirsty Hay (curling), Giles Long (para-swimming), Alison Williamson (archery), John Mayock (athletics), John Robertson (sailing), Karen Roberts (judo) and Graham Gristwood (orienteering), while rower Peter Gardner became the first employee as Chief Executive.

Swimmer Karen Pickering joined as Chair at the end of 2004 and served for 12 years.

Work originally focused on giving athletes a voice, and the BAC began to raise awareness of its services by visiting sports and athletes across the country. Soon athletes were able to receive help with their contracts, referrals for legal support, representation in anti-doping cases and selection reviews.

One major early achievement was the athlete pension scheme, set up by Gardner to allow athletes to begin a pension and receive tax relief on it – both of which were previously not possible.

Other successes included the launch of Athletes Direct, which allowed athletes to earn money through school visits, and the BAC’s vocal efforts to prevent random drug testing in the 2012 athletes’ village. However the organisation continued to operate with a skeleton staff.

The BAC’s growth began when athlete welfare – and its relative prioritisation alongside medal success – came to the fore around 2016, as allegations of cultural mismanagement emerged across several sports.

Following an independent UK Sport review into athlete voice and representation across the system, the BEAA received greater investment as a key organisation to help British sport ‘win well’.

When allegations of abuse and mistreatment within British gymnastics began to surface in 2020, the BEAA stepped in to both campaign for an independent review, and – funded by UK Sport and Sport England – establish a comprehensive mechanism through which those affected by mistreatment could share their experience and access appropriate support.

This work was highlighted in the Whyte Review – the independent review commissioned to investigate the allegations – in which Anne Whyte KC said: “In particular I would like to thank the BEAA for its tireless work in supporting the individuals who contacted them.”

In summer 2022 the British Athletes Commission rebranded to the British Elite Athletes Association following the appointment of CEO Anna Watkins.

Today the BEAA provides direct support to one in 10 elite athletes each year in addition to running the Athlete Advisory Forum, Athlete Representatives, a private digital platform to keep alumni connected with sport, athlete networks, workshops, advocacy in decision-making and more. Our work has expanded, but our mission is the same as 2004: to stand with elite British athletes.

Timeline

• 13th January 2004: The British Athletes Commission forms after several months of work by Guin Batten and Marc Woods among others, with voluntary athletes conducting the inaugural meeting at the Burleigh Court Conference Centre in Loughborough. Kate Allenby is appointed Chair.
• 11th February 2004: Peter Gardner is appointed as the BAC’s first full-time member of staff – he begins formally after returning from the 2004 Olympics in September.
• 10th December 2004: Karen Pickering is appointed Chair. She serves for almost 12 years. 2006: The BAC launches the Athletes Direct programme, allowing athletes to earn money through school visits.
• October 2006: The BAC enables the athlete pension scheme.
• C.2008: The BAC works with SportsAid and Betfair on to help athletes understand illegal betting in sport.
• January 2010: The BAC successfully pushes against random drug searches in the 2012 athletes’ village.
• C.2016: A series of athlete welfare reviews begin across sport. 31st March 2017: Vicki Aggar joins the BAC as Chair.
• 2018: The BAC sets up a formal casework department.
• May 2018: UK Sport boosts the BAC’s funding to £1m until the end of the Tokyo cycle.
• 8th July 2020: The first direct contact to the BAC is made by a gymnast concerning allegations of mistreatment. Two days later, the BAC publicly calls for an independent review.
• 20th July 2020: After being funded by UK Sport and Sport England to support those with concerns, the BAC then commissions the NSPCC to jointly deliver a dedicated helpline.
• 7th September 2020: A specialist case management team is seconded to the BAC from the NSPCC to provide comprehensive, end-to-end support for those who have reported concerns.
• 31st July-5th September 2021: The BAC is commissioned to provide its first 24-hour Games-time support during Tokyo.
• October 2021: The BAC’s funding is boosted to £1.83m until Paris. This allows the BAC to bring the members of staff previously seconded from the NSPCC into the organisation full-time.
• 16th June 2022: The Whyte Review is published, praising the BAC for “its tireless work in supporting the individuals who contacted them in often difficult circumstances.”
• 27th June 2022: Double Olympic medallist Anna Watkins MBE becomes CEO.
• 12th September 2022: The BAC rebrands to the British Elite Athletes Association.
• 6th February 2023: Double Olympian Dominic Mahony MBE becomes Chair.
  2023: The BEAA broadens its work to focus on proactive measures, including the launch of the Athlete Advisory Forum and a digital platform for alumni.