{"id":26192,"date":"2024-08-08T10:28:03","date_gmt":"2024-08-08T09:28:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/endcorporalpunishment.org\/?p=26192"},"modified":"2024-08-23T20:27:03","modified_gmt":"2024-08-23T19:27:03","slug":"safe-sports-day-and-olympics-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/endcorporalpunishment.org\/safe-sports-day-and-olympics-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Safe Sports Day and Olympics 2024: High time to #EndCorporalPunishment of children in sport"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Historically, corporal punishment has been widely accepted in sport, and remains common in many countries and contexts. Persons in positions of power and trust, such as coaches and trainers and others might physically punish young athletes, purportedly to motivate them to perform better. Punishments can include striking, punching, slapping, excessive exercise and other severe violence, and is often accompanied by verbal abuse or otherwise humiliating treatment.<\/p>

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Blog and call to action by End Corporal Punishment<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

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Like corporal punishment of children in other contexts, violent punishment in sport is associated with a wide range of negative impacts, including physical injuries, psychological trauma, decreased self-esteem, and increased aggression. Studies have found that corporal punishment is not an effective means of improving performance or behaviour in sport, and in fact increases anxiety, reduces enjoyment of the sport, and leads to higher dropout rates.[1]<\/a> The use of corporal punishment in sport is increasingly recognized as inappropriate and harmful. Emphasizing positive, supportive coaching methods can foster better athletic performance and personal development among young athletes while safeguarding their well-being and dignity.<\/p>

Recent studies have highlighted the high levels of the physical abuse of children in sport. In the 2021 CASES Study, conducted in six European countries, 52% of men and 36% of women reported at least one experience of physical violence inside sport before age 18.[2]<\/a> The 2021 Census of Athlete Rights Experiences (CARE Report) of the World Players Association and UNI Global Union found that 37% of elite athletes had at least one experience of physical abuse as a child in sport.[3]<\/a> Undoubtedly improved monitoring and reporting systems are needed to support the\u00a0 elimination of corporal punishment of children in sport.<\/p>

67 States<\/a><\/span> have now prohibited corporal punishment in all settings of their lives, and growing number of countries have banned corporal punishment in schools and other child-related institutions \u2013 although some 63 states still allow corporal punishment in schools<\/a><\/span>. In sport, there are increasing calls for similar explicit prohibitions. Ethical guidelines from numerous sport organizations emphasize the importance of respecting the dignity and rights of young athletes.<\/p>

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has demonstrated a growing commitment to eliminating harmful practices in sport. Its Safe Sport initiatives and programmes<\/span><\/a>\u00a0strive to ensure that every athlete can train and compete in a safe sporting environment \u2013 one that is fair, equitable and free from all forms of harassment and abuse.[4]<\/sup><\/a> Its Safe Sport Unit <\/span>is forging new ground than includes education, awareness raising and safeguarding training and tools.<\/p>

Notwithstanding these achievements, more needs to be done.\u00a0 The IOC could play a leading role in insisting on the safety of\u00a0the hundreds of millions of\u00a0<\/u>children engaged in sport at all levels, critically by making a commitment to end corporal punishment of children in sport.\u00a0 In the immediate future it could take measures to ensure that no child participant in the 2026 Youth Olympic Games is subjected to any form of corporal punishment during the two-year lead up to the Games.\u00a0 This is achievable and would influence children\u2019s engagement in sport in every country in the world, would demonstrate the IOC\u2019s commitment to child protection and wellbeing in sport as non-negotiable, and would have significant positive impacts on the wider societal acceptance of violence against children.<\/p>

August 8, is Safe Sport Day, taking the theme of making sport safe for children EVERY day.\u00a0 <\/strong>This year it takes place as the Paris Olympic Games are inspiring\u00a0 children around the world to participate in sport, and as governments and the international community prepare for the First Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Bogot\u00e1 in November. This is a vital opportunity to make and reaffirm commitments to end corporal punishment and other forms of violence in sport against children. Every child has a right to access powerful and positive experiences in sport safely and without risking the harms of corporal punishment.<\/strong><\/p>

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