The candidate list for the volunteer positions includes multiple Olympic medallists and athletes who have experienced the Olympic Games environment on as many as four occasions.

A peer voting process will see Commission members elected by not only current athletes on the World Class Performance Pathway, but also Olympians who have competed for Britain since 1998.

Voting opens today and the results will be announced in July.

Once elected, the members of the Athletes’ Commission, led by new chair Sarah Winckless, will come together to act as an advisory group.

They will represent the voice of athletes and contribute the athlete perspective to major decision making by the BOA team.

BOA chief executive Andy Hunt said: "The outstanding shortlist of nominated athletes will ensure that the BOA receives truly world-class advice from the Athletes’ Commission.

"We look forward to the valuable contributions and perspective the Athletes’ Commission will offer to Team GB as we head towards London 2012 and beyond."

Other notable names on the short-list include rower Katherine Grainger, a triple Olympic silver medallist; eventer William Fox-Pitt, an Olympic silver and bronze medallist; judo player Karina Bryant, a six-time World Championship medallist; and race walker Chris Maddocks (pictured), who competed in five consecutive Olympics between Los Angeles in 1984 and Sydney 2000.

Each voter may choose two candidates from two different sports.

The eight candidates with the greatest number of votes will be elected automatically, provided there are no more than two Olympians from any one sport.

The remaining four Olympians will be appointed by a selection committee to ensure that there is representation from a mix of male and female Olympians and athletes from different winter and summer sports.

Members will serve an initial term through to December 2012.

Winckless said: "I’m delighted by the excellent candidate list and the wide range of summer and winter sports represented.

"The fact that my fellow Olympians are eager to give their time voluntarily to act on behalf of their peers is a mark of the pride and passion we feel as Olympians and members of Team GB.

"Once the election is over, I look forward to working together with the members of the Commission to help BOA management utilise the athlete perspective to deliver the greatest opportunity possible for Team GB athletes to achieve success in London and beyond."

To see the full list of candidates click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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