The inaugural meeting of the Federation of International Bandy (FIB) Athletes' Committee took place on 30 June 2024, marking a significant milestone for athlete representation within the organisation. 

At this historic gathering, the committee members unanimously elected Rebecca Draper (USA) as Chair and Gian Luca Beeler (Switzerland) as Vice-Chair. 

Rebecca Draper, the new Chair of the FIB Athletes' Committee, said, "I am honoured to have been elected as Chair of the FIB Athletes Committee and to represent the athletes on the Executive Committee. I will look forward to representing the interests of the athletes and working towards the growth and development of our sport." 

The formation of the five-member committee and its first meeting is a progressive step towards ensuring that athletes' voices are heard at the highest level within the FIB. 

On Saturday 8 June the Federation of International Bandy (FIB) held its Ordinary Congress in Stockholm, Sweden, where the members of the FIB Athletes' Committee were ratified: Ville Kristian Aaltonen (Finland), Daniel Laszlo Bata (Hungary), Sanna Gustaffson (Sweden), the now Chair Rebecca Lynn Draper (United States) and the now Vice - Chair Gian Luca Dario Beeler (Switzerland).

FIB President, Henrik Nilsson, congratulated the Chair and Vice Chair on their new roles. "The establishment of the Athletes Committee is a crucial development for our federation", he said. 

"With Rebecca and Gian Luca at the helm, I am confident that the committee will effectively represent the interests of the athletes and contribute to the future success of bandy. We are delighted to welcome Rebecca to the Executive Committee, not only as the athletes' representative, but also as our second female member," added Nilsson. 

The next steps for the Committee include setting the agenda for their upcoming meetings and outlining their strategic priorities for the coming year. As they embark on this new journey, the entire bandy community looks forward to seeing the positive impact of their work. In order to promote greater transparency in the workings of the FIB, the minutes of Athletes Committee (AC) meetings will always be published after approval by the same AC.