The governance and integrity reform of World Athletics was undertaken in 2016 to create an effective organisation, and a transparent and accountable sports administration.

The reform was designed to answer three key questions:

1. How does our sport want to make decisions?

2. Who do we want in our sport?

3. How do we evolve the sport to remain relevant, generate new revenue, and re-engineer new elements of the sport that reconnect with young people?

Based on those key questions, the four key platforms of the governance and integrity reform were:

· Redefined roles and responsibilities including empowering the Member Federations and ensuring stronger area representation

· Greater athlete representation

· Better gender balance

· Independent anti-doping, integrity and disciplinary functions.

Congress

Congress is the highest authority of the sport and World Athletics. Council, the Executive Board and other bodies within World Athletics are accountable to it and must report to Congress annually.

Council

Council’s role is to govern the sport of athletics. It has responsibility for all decisions related to the sport of athletics, including approving all rules and regulations, selecting host cities for World Athletics events, deciding the competition calendar, appointing Commissions, developing the World Plan for athletics and approving the World Athletics Strategic Plan.

Executive board

The role of the Executive Board is to govern World Athletics’ business. The Executive Board has responsibility for all decisions related to the business of World Athletics including the annual plan and budget, risks and compliance, and organisational policies, procedures and systems.

President

The role of the President is to serve as the public face of the sport of athletics, representing World Athletics at competitions, conferences, meetings and before governmental and international organisations to develop and promote the strategy and plans of World Athletics in growing athletics throughout the world. The President is responsible for chairing Congress, Council and the Executive Board, including ensuring the decisions of Congress, Council and the Executive Board are implemented.

Vice-Presidents

All Vice-Presidents, including the Senior Vice-President, are also Members of Council and ex officio members of the Executive Board.

Chief Executive Officer

The CEO is responsible for the day to day management of World Athletics in accordance with the approved plans and budgets (including the World Athletics headquarters and staff).

Commissions

There are four World Athletics Commissions:

· Athletes’ Commission

· Competition Commission

· Development Commission

· Governance Commission

The role of the Commissions is to provide expertise and to advise Council.

In addition to these Commissions, there will be a number of Working Groups established by Council and appointed only when required to undertake a specific task or project over a short period of time.