Canada Centre for Safe Sport

Canadian athletes and companies involved in sports are now required to report any concerns related to harassment, abuse or discrimination to a new body called the Centre for Safe Sport. The organization, which is part of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, was created in response to growing concerns about the prevalence of such issues in sports and the need to provide a safe environment for all participants.

According to the Centre for Safe Sport, athletes and individuals involved in sport will be able to report any concerns they have regarding harassment, abuse, or discrimination through a confidential online platform. The platform will then allow the Centre for Safe Sport to investigate the complaint and take necessary action to address the issue.

The creation of the Centre for Safe Sport comes in the wake of several high-profile cases of abuse and harassment in Canadian sports, including allegations against former coach Dave Scott-Thomas, who is facing a lawsuit alleging he sexually assaulted one of his athletes, and allegations against former Olympic rower Harold Backer, who was charged with fraud after disappearing for several years.

The Centre for Safe Sport hopes to provide a safe and supportive environment for all individuals involved in sports, including athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers. The organization's mandate is to ensure that everyone involved in sports can participate without fear of harassment, abuse, or discrimination.

The organization's CEO, Paul Melia, believes that the Centre for Safe Sport will be a valuable resource for athletes and sports organizations in Canada. He says that the organization's approach is to create a "culture of prevention" by providing education and training to individuals involved in sports to help them recognize and address issues related to harassment, abuse, and discrimination.

The Centre for Safe Sport is also working to ensure that there are consequences for those who engage in such behavior. The organization has a range of tools at its disposal, including the ability to suspend or ban individuals who are found to have engaged in harassment, abuse, or discrimination.

The creation of the Centre for Safe Sport has been welcomed by many individuals and organizations involved in sports in Canada. However, some have raised concerns about the ability of the organization to effectively address the issue of harassment, abuse, and discrimination in sports.

Critics have pointed out that the Centre for Safe Sport is a voluntary organization, which means that not all sports organizations in Canada will be required to report concerns to the organization. There are also concerns about the organization's ability to investigate complaints thoroughly and to hold individuals and organizations accountable for their actions.

Despite these concerns, the Centre for Safe Sport represents an important step forward in the effort to create a safe and inclusive environment for all individuals involved in sports in Canada. The organization's focus on prevention, education, and accountability is a positive development, and it is hoped that the Centre for Safe Sport will be able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of athletes and individuals involved in sports in Canada.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/safe-sport-complaints-canada-athletes-companies-1.6788436