The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) successfully conducted the 6th Continental Athletes’ Forum in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 2–3 September 2025, bringing together athlete representatives from across Asia for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and engagement on issues shaping the future of sport on the continent.
Held under the theme “Empowering Voices, Uniting Asia,” the Forum served as a key platform for athlete engagement and leadership development. According to the OCA, the event gathered more than 120 delegates representing 42 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) from across Asia, as well as representatives of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Forum programme and key highlights
The two-day programme featured panel discussions, working groups, seminars, and open dialogue sessions, providing athletes with opportunities to share perspectives and engage on topics of direct relevance to their sporting careers and life beyond sport. In line with official OCA information, discussions focused on athlete welfare, safe sport, anti-doping, and Olympic Solidarity programmes.
Dedicated sessions on anti-doping and the prevention of competition manipulation were delivered by experts from the OCA and partner organizations, equipping athlete representatives with practical information and tools to support clean and fair sport across the Asian region.
According to the OCA, the Forum was marked by a high level of engagement and constructive interaction, fostering meaningful exchanges on issues central to athletes’ development, representation, and well-being within the Olympic Movement.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) actively participated in the Forum through its Athlete Engagement team and members of the WADA Athlete Council, contributing to dedicated anti-doping sessions delivered in cooperation with the OCA Athlete Council and OCA Anti-Doping Unit. The sessions focused on athlete-centered anti-doping education, the role of athlete leadership, and available support mechanisms for athletes.
Throughout the Forum, WADA operated an Athlete Engagement booth, providing athletes with an opportunity to interact directly with WADA representatives, access clean sport information, and learn more about athlete engagement initiatives. The booth materials and banners were co-branded with OCA, the Kazakhstan National Anti-Doping Center (KazNADO), and Central Asia Regional Anti-Doping Organization (RADOCA), produced locally in Kazakhstan, and will be left as a legacy resource for use by RADOCA member countries at future athlete education and engagement activities across the region.
The RADOCA was represented at the Forum by its Director, Dr Venera Abdulla, who participated in the event in her capacity as a member of the OCA Medical Committee and Anti-Doping Commission. Her participation reflected RADOCA’s continued commitment to athlete-centered approaches, clean sport, and close cooperation with the OCA and key stakeholders across Asia.
RADOCA welcomes the successful organization of the 6th Continental Athletes’ Forum by the OCA and looks forward to continued collaboration with the OCA, WADA, and national partners to further strengthen athlete engagement, anti-doping education, and the promotion of clean sport across the region.