Selection policies are documents that state the criteria and requirements for programme and competition selection. Every sport is different, but most will have these documents for selection to World Class programmes, and all other major competitions, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
It is your responsibility to make sure you are clear about the designated selection events and performance standards you are aiming to achieve.
Having a comprehensive understanding of the selection policy and criteria will provide you with an understanding of performance expectations and targets.
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Sport Resolutions (SR) is a London based independent, not-for-profit, dispute resolution service for sport. It operates globally and offers arbitration, mediation, tribunal, investigation services among others. https://www.sportresolutions.com/about/sport-resolutions
At Sport Resolutions, we know the importance of time and reputation for athletes. Hence we provide quick and accessible proceedings with the help of experienced sport dispute resolution experts who act as arbitrators. We have just over 300 individuals on the Sport Resolutions Panel which includes many of the top legal, financial, medical, safeguarding and sport administrator professionals working in sport.
We work with a wide range of sports in the UK and internationally.
Arbitration - This service provides a final and binding resolution to all kinds of sports disputes where the parties need a decision to be made on a specific matter. Examples of disputes include: appeals against athlete selection, funding appeals, eligibility.
Mediation – This service provides a quick and cost-effective way of resolving all kinds of sports disputes where it is important for the resolution to remain confidential and for the relationship between the parties to be preserved. Examples of disputes include: issues arising from commercial contracts and agreements, discrimination issues, termination of coaching contracts, deterioration of relationships within the board room or dressing room.
Investigation and reviews - This service provides an independent means of compiling evidence in connection with a complaint or allegation, in support of a sport organisation’s disciplinary procedures, complaints procedures or other regulations. For example child safeguarding allegations, handling of complaints by National Governing Bodies (NGBs), investigation allegations of discriminatory behaviour etc.
Safeguarding – SR provides a range of services to assist sport organisations at national and international level with disputes and concerns of a safeguarding nature. SR operates the National Safeguarding Panel (NSP) which supports NGBs in the UK in the professional management of safeguarding complaints and concerns, covering both children and adults. NSP members are also members of Sport Resolutions Panel and as such their safeguarding expertise is also available for international cases.
SR is also working with Sport England to provide end-to-end safeguarding case management support for NGBs. Those services include providing initial advice and assistance upon disclosure or referral, investigation services to determine the facts and a hearing panel to determine matters at both first instance and appeal.
This service is called the Safeguarding Case Management Programme (SCMP).
National Anti-Doping Panel - The National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) is the United Kingdom’s independent tribunal responsible for adjudicating anti-doping disputes in sport. The service is operated by Sport Resolutions in accordance with its own procedural rules and is entirely independent of UK Anti-Doping, who are responsible for investigating, charging and prosecuting cases before the NADP.
Pro-bono legal advice - SR provides a list of experienced sport lawyers who may be willing to assist individuals of limited financial means before Sport Resolutions panels and other tribunals.
This provides:
• equality of arms, procedural fairness and adherence to principles of natural justice;
• compliance with the Athletes' Anti-Doping Rights Act which is based on the World Anti-Doping 2021 Code and Standards and aims to ensure that athlete rights within anti-doping are clearly set out, accessible, and universally applicable;
• a properly independent process ensuring that all athletes have access to legal advice at no cost; and avoids;
• longer processes caused by self-represented athletes.
The British Olympic Association (BOA) is the National Olympic Committee for the United Kingdom. It is responsible for organising and overseeing the participation of athletes from the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic Team, at both the summer and winter Olympic Games, the Youth Olympic Games, the European Youth Olympic Festivals, and at the European Games. The Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and UK Overseas Territories that do not have their own National Olympic Committee also fall under the BOA.
Every two years the team represents Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the summer or winter Olympic Games. The team is selected by the British Olympic Association, in conjunction with the governing bodies, from the best sportsmen and women to compete in 33 summer and seven winter Olympic sports at the greatest sporting event in the world.
The BOA is not funded or controlled by government, has no political interests and is completely dependent upon commercial sponsorship and fundraising income. The BOA is the strong, independent voice for British Olympic Sport.
The BOA’s role is to lead and prepare our nation’s finest athletes at the Olympic Games and it has the responsibility for developing the Olympic Movement throughout the UK.
In addition, the BOA delivers support services to Britain’s Olympic athletes and their National Governing Bodies throughout each Olympic cycle to assist them in their preparations for, and performances at the Games.
The British Paralympic Association (BPA) is the National Paralympic Committee for Great Britain (GB) and is responsible for the United Kingdom's participation in the Paralympic Games.
The BPA select, prepare, enter, fund and manage the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team at the Paralympic Games. This team is known as ParalympicsGB.
The BPA receive a restricted and ring-fenced investment from UK Sport to directly support the athlete preparation programmes across each Paralympic four-year cycle. This contributes to their overall ability to maintain a world leading Paralympic team, through supporting athlete education programmes.
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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the guardian of Olympic Games and the leader of the Olympic Movement.
A truly global organisation, it acts as a catalyst for collaboration between all Olympic stakeholders, including the athletes, the National Olympic Committees (BOA and BPA for Britain), the International Federations and the Organising Committees for the Olympic Games.
As an athlete, the IOC may affect you in several ways:
Representation and support: The IOC represents your interests on a global scale, advocating for athletes' rights, welfare, and opportunities. It provides support and resources to enable your participation in the Olympic Games and other international competitions.
Platform for competition: The IOC organises and oversees the Olympic Games, providing a prestigious platform for you to showcase your skills and compete against the world's best athletes. Participating in the Olympics can significantly impact your career, reputation, and opportunities for endorsements and sponsorships.
Promotion of values: The IOC promotes the values of Olympism, including excellence, respect, and friendship as well as solidarity. These values not only guide the conduct of athletes during competitions but also serve as a foundation for promoting sportsmanship, integrity, and mutual understanding both on and off the field.
Advocacy for clean sport: The IOC is committed to promoting clean and fair competition by combating doping and other forms of cheating. It implements stringent anti-doping measures and supports initiatives to ensure a level playing field for all athletes.
Opportunities for development: Through various programs and initiatives, the IOC supports the development of athletes at all levels, from grassroots to elite. This includes support in career transition, mental health and a variety of online learning courses.
Athlete365 serves as the community and vehicle to provide these opportunities.
Athlete365 has been created by athletes, for athletes with a mission to make athletes’ lives better and to grow the world’s biggest community of elite and Olympic-level athletes. By providing relevant advice, services and tools Athlete365 is unique positioned to support Athletes in the areas that they need it the most and at every stage of their career.
As athletes on the World Class Programme, you can access the Athlete365 platform – this is not limited to Olympians or Paralympians. Any elite athlete can access the resources.
Click here for more information.
UK Sport is a strategic investor in Olympic and Paralympic performance programmes. Pursuant to its Royal Charter and National Lottery Directions, UK Sport encourages, supports, and promotes high ethical standards from all recipients of its funding. High standards of conduct are important in upholding the positive impact of sport on society.
As a strategic, discretionary, investor of National Lottery and Exchequer funding in Olympic and Paralympic sports, Athletes and Athlete Support Personnel (“ASP”), UK Sport reserves the right to decide who is eligible to receive Public Funding and/or Publicly Funded Benefits through the Eligibility Policy. UK Sport’s guiding principle is that investment into Athletes and ASP is a privilege and not a right.
Where the conduct of an Athlete or ASP causes their eligibility for funding to be in question, UK Sport has established an Eligibility Panel to determine the individual cases for Athletes and ASP to receive Public Funding and/or Publicly Funded Benefits. An Athlete or ASP can be in breach of the Eligibility Policy for the following matters:
• Crimes • Anti-Doping Rule Violation
• Betting • Intentional Misrepresentation
• Misconduct
• Disrepute
• False statements, declarations and disclosure
UKAD is an active participant in the global fight against doping in sport. It is the national body responsible for creating a UK-wide environment of confidence in clean sport.
Whether it is in relation to those competing, training or spectating, UKAD is working for everyone who loves sport. In the UK, it makes sure sports bodies comply with the World Anti-Doping Code through implementation and management of the UK’s National Anti-Doping Policy.
UKAD works with a variety of stakeholders, including athletes, to protect the right to enjoy doping-free sport in the UK.
Athletes will typically have to undertake clean sport education and must ensure they understand the anti-doping rules and protocols, such as 'Whereabouts', as well as what’s prohibited, plus more.
Make sure you know the Anti-Doping Rules.
At its simplest UK Sport invest funds from The National Lottery and UK Government into Olympic and Paralympic athletes and sports.
This is so the best support can be provided to elite athletes to help them achieve their performance ambitions.