Oshonaike Appointed to IOC Athletes’ Commission
Written by Alonge Akinlolu on 5 — 12
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed the appointment of Nigeria’s Olufunke Oshonaike, Africa’s most decorated female table tennis player, to the IOC Athletes’ Commission. The announcement was made on Thursday as the global body introduced five new members to the influential commission.
Oshonaike, a seven time Olympian who featured in every Olympic Games from Atlanta 1996 to Tokyo 2020, becomes the first Nigerian to join the IOC Athletes’ Commission. Her appointment is regarded as a significant milestone for Nigerian sports and athlete representation on the global stage.
She joins four other distinguished athletes selected by the IOC: Soraya Aghaei Haji Agha of Iran (badminton), Husein Alireza of Saudi Arabia (rowing), Cheick Sallah Cissé of Côte d’Ivoire (taekwondo), and Mariana Pajón of Colombia (cycling). Their inclusion expands the Commission’s membership to 23, representing a broad cross-section of continents and Olympic sports.
The IOC described the Athletes’ Commission as central to ensuring that athletes’ perspectives remain integral to decision making within the Olympic Movement. Oshonaike, who already serves on the Athletes’ Commissions of both the Nigeria Olympic Committee and the national table tennis federation, expressed gratitude for the recognition and pledged to contribute actively to global athlete advocacy.
Her appointment is expected to strengthen Africa’s representation at the IOC and elevate Nigeria’s visibility within international sports governance ahead of future Olympic cycles.
