IOC President presents OLY honours to archery Olympians at world championships

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach presented OLY honours to more than 150 Olympians from 30 countries in a special ceremony held during finals at the 2019 Hyundai World Archery Championships in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.

Among those that received their OLY certificate and pin were Rio 2016 Olympic Champion Chang Hye Jin, Barcelona 1992 Olympic Champion Sebastien Flute, and reigning Paralympic Champion and Olympian Zahra Nemati.

Olympians who have received the honour can use the letters OLY after their name on official documentation.

The World Olympians Association launched the OLY initiative in November 2017. Since then, more than 10,000 Olympians worldwide have been granted the honour, which serves to recognise their sporting achievements and act as a symbol of their commitment to furthering the Olympic ideals.

The OLY honour is available to any athlete who has competed at a Summer or Winter Olympic Games. Applications to receive OLY honours can be submitted on the World Olympians Association website.

Four-time Olympian and World Archery athletes’ committee chair Naomi Folkard said: “Representing Great Britain at the Olympic Games has been the highlight of my career. I hope to use my status as an Olympian to help create a better world through sport – and I am deeply honoured to have received my OLY diploma among so many of my talented peers at these championships.”

World Olympians Association Joel Bouzou said: “Alongside exceptional sporting achievements, it is pleasing to know so many of these athletes are so dedicated to spreading the Olympic ideals throughout their careers, embodying the values of Olympism in everyday life both on and off the field of play. OLY recognises and celebrates this.”

The 2019 Hyundai World Archery Championships took place on 10-16 June in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.