The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) has formally adopted the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Rights and Responsibilities Declaration (ARRD), reaffirming its commitment to athlete-centred governance and to the protection, empowerment, and fair treatment of athletes across the global shooting sport community.
The IOC Athletes’ Rights and Responsibilities Declaration is a landmark framework developed by athletes, for athletes, through an extensive global consultation led by the IOC Athletes’ Commission. It outlines a common set of 12 aspirational rights and 10 responsibilities and it establishes a shared understanding of the fundamental rights athletes should enjoy, alongside the responsibilities they carry within the Olympic Movement, ranging from integrity, solidarity, ethics, and clean sport, to non-discrimination and athlete representation, among others.
The Declaration outlines key principles aimed at ensuring that athletes can practice sport in environments that are safe, inclusive, and free from discrimination, harassment, and abuse. It promotes clean and fair sport, access to education and information, protection of physical and mental health, respect for privacy and freedom of expression, and the ability for athletes to pursue dual careers alongside their sporting commitments. It also recognises the importance of athlete representation and access to fair and transparent processes.
By adopting the Declaration, the ISSF aligns itself with these universal principles and reinforces its commitment to placing athletes at the heart of decision-making. The adoption reflects the Federation’s ongoing efforts to strengthen good governance, integrity, and athlete welfare across all levels of international shooting sport.
“The adoption of the IOC Athletes’ Rights and Responsibilities Declaration underscores ISSF’s belief that athletes are central to the future of our sport, aligned with the recommendations of the IOC Olympic Agenda 2020+5” said Cassio Rippel, ISSF Athletes Committee Chairperson. “It represents a clear commitment to upholding internationally recognised standards that protect athletes’ rights while promoting responsibility, respect, and integrity.”
The ARRD is a historical athlete-driven initiative, led by an athlete representative Steering Committee. Cassio is part of the IOC Steering Committee since 2023. The next steps, inside each Federation and National Olympic Committee, are really important. The implementation phase has two levels of recommendations: the baseline recommendations and the next level. In the first stage, we have concrete measures and a gradual implementation of the Declaration inside the institution. “We developed the Implementation Guide with practical recommendations, useful resources, and best practices to help all IFs and NOCs. And I am sure now that the ISSF will follow all the steps and we will be aligned with the IOC and the best Olympic sports organizations in the world”, said Cassio Rippel, member of the IOC ARRD Steering Committee.
The ISSF will continue to work in collaboration with athletes, member federations, and partners within the Olympic Movement to fulfil the two levels of implementation of the Declaration, promote awareness and effectiveness of all the 12 rights throughout the Federation and the shooting sport community.
