Budapest 2023: Nigeria Athlete Set To View For Seat In WAA Commission Election

Nigerian athlete, Rilwan Alowonle Jnr joined the World Athletics political fray as his name is listed among the 14 candidates that will vie for seats in the forthcoming Athletes Commission elections.

According to World Athletics, the elections into the Athletes Commission will come up during the Budapest 2023 World Championships billed for August 18-23 2023.

Alowonle, a U S born and University of North Carolina graduate competes for Nigeria in the 400meters hurdles as well as 4×400 relay. He competed at the 2019 World championship in Doha reaching the semi finals. In the same year he reached 3rd position at the 2019 African Games.

Apart from Alowonle who represented Nigeria, other athletes from New Zealand, Slovenia, Brazil, Spain, Argentina, United Kingdom, Syria, France, Uganda, Lithuania, Jamaica, China and the United States are among the candidates.

The six seats available for election in 2023 include the Chair and Deputy Chair positions, which will be voted on by the Athletes’ Commission following the elections and once the membership is finalised.

All athletes accredited for the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 will have the right to vote in the elections, which will take place during the championships between August 18-23 in official team venues.

To be eligible for election, athletes must have competed in at least one of the past two editions of the World Athletics Championships, or in the most recent Olympic Games, or be a competitor at this year’s World Athletics Championships.

This year’s Athletes’ Commission elections will introduce a new method of voting. For the first time, voting will be done electronically, on portable voting devices, rather than via paper ballots. This transition to electronic voting is in line with World Athletics’ commitment to sustainability, and will enable a more efficient polling and counting process.