Olympians Juliet Campbell and Briana Williams are pleased to have had discussions with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach.

Bach, who visited Jamaica with eight other IOC members at the weekend, met a number of Jamaican Olympians in a private question and answer session in Montego Bay on Saturday, with the aim of hearing their concerns regarding the welfare of athletes and former athletes alike.

While the discussion took place privately, the Jamaica Observer understands that issues such as athletes taking up administrative roles within their respective sporting associations, athlete scholarships, and ensuring parity in spite of competing against transgendered athletes came up.

Campbell describes the session as fruitful.

“It was happy having president here, most of all,” she told the Observer.

“Good that he took the time out of his schedule to come and sit and chat with us.”

Campbell says she felt Bach may have been surprised by how knowledgeable the Olympians and administrators are on the issues discussed.

“Jamaica is a very knowledgeable country about their sport, particularly track and field,” she said.

“Some of the topics were intense but necessary. Some of them, he had answers to, some, not so much. We were happy to have him and I learned a lot today.”

But Campbell says all the issues she wanted to be addressed did not get to be raised.

“Some persons spoke so much and didn’t give others an opportunity, but the main topic I wanted to discuss was somewhat touched upon,” she said regarding the issue of transgendered athletes.

“It’s a sensitive topic with no clear solutions. However, I’m happy that I got a chance to discuss it and for him to give his insight as it is at the moment, but hopefully, within my lifetime, there is some resolution to that issue and it becomes fair play for everyone.”

Bach said before that meeting that the IOC’s stance on transgendered athletes competing against females is based on scientific research but he would prefer decisions about it made on a sport-by-sport basis.

Williams says an IOC president visiting Jamaica for the first time in history is a big deal.

“To meet the president of the IOC and to hear his nice, kind gestures and words and just to learn a lot about him and speak our minds as athletes, coaches, and representatives is pleasing,” she said.

“There were two parts of the session where I was really intrigued. I did have questions where we could’ve gone even more in-depth but that’s for another time.”

Campbell competed for Jamaica in the women’s 400m and 4x400m relays at the Barcelona Games in 1996 and Atlanta 1996, and in the women’s 200m at the Sydney Games in 2000.

Williams is a member of Jamaica’s gold medal-winning women’s 4x100m relay team at the Tokyo Games in 2021.