Bermuda Olympic Association, president Austin Woods confirmed yesterday.

Last week at a General Council meeting members voted to change the constitution to allow an athlete to be elected at the upcoming General Assembly as chairman of the Athletes Commission.

That, says Woods, came at the urging of the International Olympic Committee who want to see athletes gaining better representation on national Olympic associations.

"Last year the IOC asked that an athlete be included on each National Olympic Committee,'' explained Woods.

"Our constitution at the time did not have provision for that, so the federation voted to change the constitition to allow an athlete who has participated in the Olympic Games within the last five years to become an executive member.'' That would include the Island's 1996 Olympians such as Brian Wellman, Troy Douglas, Peter Bromby, Lee White, Paula Lewin and Elliot Hubbard.

Others who are eligible include the now retired Clarance Saunders, Jenny Smatt, Chris Flook, sailors Blythe Walker and Reid and Jay Kempe and Winter Olympian Simon Payne.

It would seem unlikely that the names of track stars Wellman and Douglas would be put forward by the federations as they spend most of their time competing overseas.

So too do equestriennes Suzie Dunkley-Zandvoort and M.J. Tumbridge, who are based in Holland and England respectively. The executive committee of the BOA will accept nominations from sports federations for the committee which will include five others -- not necessarily athletes -- along with the chairman.

The AGM will be held in late November or early December.

Every four years somebody will be elected as chairman of the Athletes Commission provided they meet the requirement of having participated in an Olympic Games in the five years previous, said Woods.

He said the purpose of the commission was to give athletes a voice on the BOA.

"Right now the BOA does not deal directly with the individual athletes,'' Woods said.

"The Athletes Commission will be a voice to the BOA executive committee.''