The Commission will be an advisory group to the BOA and will be asked to provide input on everything done by the BOA, but with a particular remit on those aspects that often concern athletes as they compete at a Games, for instance ticketing, provision of kit, services at the Athletes’ Village and anti-doping policy.

Its creation reinforces one of the key themes of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which used its Copenhagen Congress last year to call on National Olympic Committees around the world to show that their athletes were a meaningful voice in their decision-making process by having their own in-house Commission.

The steering group, which included hockey player Jennie Bimson, as well as canoeist Brabants, who won a gold medal at Beijing in 2008, and Martin, the skip when Britain's curlers famously won the Olympic title at Salt Lake City in 2002.

The Review determined that the "interest of the athlete becomes part of the DNA of the organisation."

Brabants said: "This is a great initiative by the BOA.

"I am impressed by the association’s willingness to look at fresh ideas and search for new ways of embedding athletes into their systems.

"I will be delighted to support the Commission now and in the future."

There will be 12 members of the BOA’s Athletes’ Commission, including Olympians past and present, with representation from both summer and winter sports.

The aim is to have a mix of male and female athletes, team sports and individual sports, with up to eight athletes who are either still competing or within four years of retirement, and a further four members who have been retired for between four and 12 years.

The BOA will shortly be inviting nominations with elections expected in June, and the first meeting in September of this year.

The Commission will have its own chair, who will automatically become a full member of the BOA’s Board.

This new Commission will work closely with the existing British Athletes’ Commission (BAC), the group that represents all international-level athletes in this country.

The BAC has been involved in the planning of this new initiative, and will encourage its members to stand for election.

Andy Hunt (pictured), the chief executive of the BOA, said: "This is a significant step forward for British Olympic sport and we look forward to the important contributions and perspective the Athletes’ Commission will offer. 

"I would like to thank the Olympians on our steering group who have challenged our thinking and helped shape our future direction in this area.

"The new Commission will bring the lens of the athlete to our work every day - the members will be asked to analyse, scrutinise and provide essential feedback and recommendations.

"The 2012 Olympic Games offer this country an unparalleled opportunity, so seeking more input from our athletes is absolutely the right innovation at the right time."
 
Pete Gardner, the chief executive of the BAC, said: "The British Athletes Commission welcomes the steps taken by the BOA to set up the BOA Athletes Commission as an advisory group on all areas of its operations.

"As the independent voice of all elite athletes in the UK, the BAC looks forward to a close working relationship with the BOA in the future, and to supporting the advisory role of the BOA’s Athletes Commission."

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