Countdown to Safe Sport Day 2021
July 30, 2021
Every day millions of people participate in sport - coaches, athletes, volunteers, referees, organisers and more. For the majority, it is a positive experience that develops social networks, confidence, skills and knowledge. But, for others, the experience is not.
On 8th August, join sports organisations around the world - including Beyond Sport - in celebrating Safe Sport Day. Championed by the International Safeguards for Children in Sport Initiative, a coalition of more than 75 organisations working together to make sport safer for children, Safe Sport Day is about raising awareness and taking action.
We know that sport can educate and empower children. It can help them build essential life skills and better futures while driving sustainable social change - but sport can only do this if it is delivered in a safe and supportive environment.
Child safeguarding in sport has been given too little attention by many clubs, organisations, funding bodies and governments for a considerable amount of time. The most common reaction being that it does not happen, is someone else’s responsibility or an isolated incident.
However, one incident of abuse in sport is one too many. It is every child’s right to be safe during sport, and it is every organisation’s responsibility to protect them. Safe Sport Day 2021 will highlight this issue and connect organisations to the resources they need to strengthen safeguarding in their work.
“We know how important sport can be for a child to thrive – but we also know that if sport doesn’t keep children safe, it can have a really negative impact. But the good news is, organisations working with children in sport around the world are already on a journey to make sport safe for all children everywhere," said Liz Twyford, Founder, International Safeguards for Children in Sport.
"Members of the International Safeguards initiative are working directly with more than 11 million children – and by following the eight safeguards, they are making children’s experience of sport safe, supportive and fun!”
The International Safeguards for Children in Sport is a free resource, designed to guide organisations on their safeguarding journey. Available in 11 languages, the eight Safeguards were developed with input from organisations across six continents. From large International Federations and agencies and professional topflight sports clubs, to local grass-roots NGOs operating in resource poor settings, doing all they can to make sport safer for children – united by a single aim, all children, everywhere, safe in sport.
A draft set of standards (now called Safeguards) were developed by a partnership of organisations working together for the Beyond Sport Summit in London in 2012. These were further developed through an extensive piloting phase over the next two years. The finalised version of the Safeguards was launched at Beyond Sport in October 2014. They lay the foundation for a holistic approach to ensuring children’s safety and protection in all sports contexts internationally.
Any organisation, however big or small, can do their bit and start their safeguarding journey. That is why this year the coalition is asking members of the movement to challenge their partners to take the pledge and start their own safeguarding journey. If you are challenged to take the pledge, we hope you are ready to take on that journey – the first step is the most important!
On the 8th of August, please join us in celebrating the eight Safeguards and if you haven’t already, take the pledge to make sport safe for children. To find out more about Safe Sport Day visit: https://bit.ly/SafeinSport #SafeInSport #SafeSportDay