The World Players Association presented the perspectives of professional athletes and their unions at the United Nations Human Rights Council’s quadrennial panel on sport and human rights. In July 2024, amidst a season of major sporting events, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights gathered governments, experts, civil society, and leaders from the UN and International Olympic Committee (IOC) to discuss inclusiveness in sports.
World Players emphasized the importance of including athletes and their independent representatives in global sports governance to align sport with human rights under universal values. Drawing from experiences and research by player associations across various sports and countries, World Players made key recommendations to ensure athletes have full access to internationally guaranteed human rights, including those under the International Labour Organization’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
Alford stated: “Athletes are ready to play in a different world. They need a level playing field. Are States ready to support them?”