Ahead of Paris Games, SafeSport Issues Findings of National Athlete Survey
2024年7月19日 - 4:45AM
ビジネスワイヤ(英語)
Results underscore need for sport culture
change, will guide prevention strategies
The U.S. Center for SafeSport (the Center) today released the
findings of its second ever Athlete Culture and Climate Survey. The
purpose of the survey was to gain a better understanding of the
experiences of athletes, particularly when it comes to emotional,
physical, and sexual abuse in sport.
“The benefits of sport can and should last a lifetime. That’s
what all athletes deserve, but it is not what many experience,”
Ju’Riese Colón, CEO, U.S. Center for SafeSport said. “These
survey results reinforce our efforts to change sport culture and
will guide the Center’s development of education and strategies for
engaging athletes and survivors.”
While the 2020 survey included athletes 18 and older within the
U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement (the Movement), the 2024
version extended participation to adult athletes outside of this
group to better understand the experiences of athletes of all
levels as well as the potential differences between those
participating within and outside of the Movement. Nearly 3,800
athletes representing 67 sports responded substantively to the
survey.
“Data on safeguarding athletes from abuse is limited, and the
Center is committed to conducting our own research to inform our
prevention strategies as well as contribute to a better national
understanding of the problem and solutions needed to ensure
athletes can thrive and fulfill their potential without the fear of
harm,” Monica Rivera, Vice President of Education and Research,
U.S. Center for SafeSport said.
Summary of Key Findings
While the survey largely focused on questions specific to the
challenges of abuse and misconduct in sport, the majority of
athletes also had positive experiences.
- Over 70% of athletes surveyed expressed strong agreement that
their athletic experience had a positive impact on their life
overall.
- 62% of those surveyed felt athletes were treated fairly in
their sport either frequently or very frequently.
Related to the challenges of abuse and misconduct:
- 78% shared that they had experienced behaviors related to
emotional harm and neglect during their sports involvement.
- 11% of athletes indicated that they had experienced unwanted
sexual contact or sexually explicit behaviors during their sports
involvement.
- More than 2 in 5 athletes (43%) who had unwanted sexual
experiences during their sports involvement reported at least one
experience occurring when they were under 18.
- Nearly half (49%) of athletes who experienced mental health
struggles during their participation in sports reported having
suicidal thoughts.
- 89% of athletes who experienced unwanted sexual behavior during
their sports involvement did not submit a formal complaint or
report.
The full 2024 Athlete Culture and Climate Survey details all the
findings and includes a breakdown of the methodology. The results
will guide the Center’s efforts to:
- Continue evaluating and improving the approach to
investigations of abuse and misconduct;
- Enhance training, educational content, and ongoing engagement
with athletes and survivors;
- Host information sessions for national governing bodies (NGBs)
and athletes to further explore the data;
- Inform the broader abuse prevention landscape throughout the
United States and abroad through research, analysis, and evaluation
of the athlete experience; and
- Prepare for a follow-up survey in 2027 to be released ahead of
the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The 2024 survey was open January-February and was available in
English and Spanish. The questions expanded on the first survey
administered in 2020. Survey submissions were anonymous, and the
results were compiled by Pacific Research and Evaluation.
Need for Abuse Prevention in Sport
The U.S. Center for SafeSport is the nation’s only independent
organization dedicated to ending sexual, physical, and emotional
abuse in U.S. Olympic and Paralympic sport. The Center emerged in
response to high profile cases of sexual abuse of minor athletes
within Olympic and Paralympic sport in the mid-2010s. With the
mission of making athlete wellbeing the centerpiece of the nation’s
sport culture, the Center has since been setting safety policies,
and receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints of abuse and
misconduct. The Center also serves as an educational resource for
sports organizations at all levels, from recreational sports
organizations to professional leagues.
With the goal of ensuring athletes within the U.S. Olympic and
Paralympic Movement are safe, supported, and strengthened, the
Center:
- Establishes safety policies, including the SafeSport Code and
the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP).
- Investigates and resolves allegations of abuse and misconduct
and levies sanctions, including temporary and permanent bans from
sport.
- Delivers comprehensive abuse prevention education within and
outside of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.
About the U.S. Center for SafeSport
The Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport
Authorization Act of 2017 codified the U.S. Center for SafeSport
(the Center), as the nation’s safe sport organization. It furthered
the Center’s independence while underscoring its authority to hold
individuals accountable. It also charged the Center with developing
policies, procedures, and training to prevent abuse and misconduct
in sport.
In October of 2020, the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and
Amateur Athletes Act of 2020 became law, even further strengthening
the Center’s independence and oversight functions while mandating
minimum funding requirements for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic
Committee.
The Center opened its doors in March of 2017.
Reporting and Resources
Report here to the U.S. Center for SafeSport if you have
experienced abuse or misconduct—or if you have reasonable suspicion
of abuse or misconduct—inflicted by someone in the U.S. Olympic and
Paralympic Movement. You can also call the Center at:
833-587-7233.
RAINN's 24/7 online hotline is available for crisis
intervention, referrals, or emotional support at any time. You can
also call RAINN at: 800-656-HOPE (4673).
The Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7 free and
confidential support at 988lifeline.org or by calling 988.
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