Sports
IOC Implements Measures To Safeguard Athletes
The International Olympic
Committee (IOC) says it has taken an important step forward in the protection of athletes from harassment and abuse in sports in time for the Rio Olympics.
A statement by the IOC on Thursday said this was in line with the reforms of Olympic Agenda 2020, which is to strengthen support to athletes.
Also, it is coming on the heels of the recommendations of four IOC Commissions (Athletes, Athletes Entourage, Medical and Scientific, and Women in Sport).
The IOC said a clear structure would be in place in Rio for participants to report any incident of harassment or abuse.
“This procedure will be coordinated by an IOC Welfare Officer, who shall be on site in the Village during the Games.
“All reported incidents will be dealt with through a confidential procedure linked to local law enforcement agencies and relevant disciplinary channels,’’ the world sports body said.
Olympic Games Rio 2016 will be the Games’ first edition where a framework for safeguarding athletes from harassment and abuse will exist.
“This will start from the opening of the Olympic Village on Sunday, July 24 and lasting until the closing of the Olympic Village on Aug. 24.
“Reporting guidelines have already been shared with all National Olympic Committees (NOCs) attending the Games,’’ the IOC said.
It added that guidelines for all NOCs and International Federations (IFs) to implement their own policies to safeguard athletes from harassment and abuse in sport have also been developed by the IOC.
“This has been done in collaboration with leading stakeholders from the Olympic Movement.
“These guidelines were approved by the IOC Executive Board on June 1 and are aimed at further assisting IFs and NOCs in protecting their athletes,’’ the sports body said.
The IOC added that it considers the topic of harassment and abuse in sports as a very real danger that requires the commitment and unity of sports organisations worldwide to combat.
“As such, a toolkit will be developed following the Olympic Games Rio 2016.
“It will contain best practice materials and step-by-step guidance to help all sports bodies in the implementation of a safeguarding policy related to the prevention of harassment and abuse.’’
The IOC then recalled that it had earlier released a Consensus Statement: Sexual Harassment and Abuse in Sport (2006).
It states that while sexual harassment and abuse occur worldwide, everyone in sports shares the responsibility to identify and prevent sexual harassment and abuse and to develop a culture of dignity, respect and safety in sport.
“Sports organisations, in particular, are gatekeepers to safety and should demonstrate strong leadership in identifying and eradicating these practices.’’
The IOC said further information regarding the protection of athletes from harassment and abuse in sport could be found on the Safe Sport section of the Olympic Athletes Hub.(NAN)
OLAL
A well-known football pundit in the State, Chief Christopher Okonkwo has lauded the efforts and vision of the Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle for going from one venue of the Nigeria Domestic Nigeria Professional Football League match to the other in monitoring Nigerian players, with a view to invite some exceptional good one discovered into the main stream of the Super Eagles team.
Okonkwo, who made the commendation in an interview at the Port Harcourt Club recently, described the positive move by Coach Chelle as a good step in the right direction, noting that the practice was how its been done in the past among any contracted coach assigned to tinker the Super Eagles team.
“Truly, it has been an old tradition in the country seeing any newly engaged Coach to lead the National team, visiting some our Nigeria League venues during the league matches to spot light some good talents that could be used to beef up some grey areas in the department of Eagles team”
He, however, frowned at the current situation where our coaches had continously been over depending on the use of foreign based players during invitation of players to the National camp, thereby, relegating the domestic home based league players to the background as if they have nothing much to offer to the team.
“I can vividly recall that the likes of great players in the mode of Finidi George, Taribo West, Kanu Nwankwo, Austin Okocha, Richard Owobokiri, Emmanuel Osuigwe among others started from Nigeria football league before they graduated to play in Europe through which they later invited to Super Eagles camp to represent Nigeria”
“Besides, I’m also of the view that going to secondary school football competitive games could equally serves as a a good platform to discover budding talents that could be nurtured to become great stars in near future”, Okonkwo frankly added.
Okonkwo, therefore, prayed that any football coach to be engaged by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to tinker the Super Eagles should be told not to confine himself in staying in big hotel alone but to be visiting some of our local league match venues, with a view to discover some good players that can be drafted into the Super Eagles team.
“Indeed, I stand to be challenged that there some young good players in the Nigeria Professional League. If spotted and exposed, could give the some of the invited foreign based players a stiff competitive fight in securing a postion in the team”, Okonkwo emphatically stated.
Ezechukwu, one of the youngest members of the Nigerian contingent at the championship in Ghana, said her ambition was to win the 100m title in style and cap it with a new personal record.
The fresh secondary school graduate explained that she is fully focused on contributing to Team Nigeria’s medal hopes and is determined to deliver strong performances across her events.
“My main objective in Ghana is to clinch the 100m title and the 4×100m,” Ezechukwu told Tidesports source.
“Nigeria can be assured of my very best and my commitment to the Team. I would love to set a new personal best in Ghana, but anything that comes, I will take it. The spirit in the team is high, and I think we are ready to go,” she said.
Ezechukwu, who was part of Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m relay squad at the World Relays in Botswana, said the experience gained from that competition has strengthened her mindset heading into the continental championships.
She admitted that she learned valuable lessons from her previous outing, including a difficult moment during the relay where an early error affected the team’s rhythm, but said she has used the experience to improve her discipline and composure.
“The secret is just being disciplined, training hard and trusting my coach and believing in God, and the result will show,” she added.
The teenager is part of a 41-member Nigerian team comprising 24 female and 17 male athletes competing at the championships, which begin today at the University of Ghana, Legon.
Nigeria are expected to compete across multiple track and field events as they aim for a strong finish against the continent’s elite athletes.
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