Introduction

• Author: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (European Commission), ECORYS
• Pages: 6-8

6

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background to the study

The topic of safe sport, and safe sport for children in particular has gain ed significant

attention in recent years. Millions of children across the EU participate in different sport

activities on a regular basis. There is widespread evidence on the po sitive benefits of

regular sport participation for children such as improved physical and mental wellbeing,

personal and educational development and social i nclusion. Recent cases of violence

against children in the media have drawn attention however to the seriousness of the

safeguarding risks factors for children and young people who take part in sport on a

regular b asis. Empirical studies across the EU have confirmed that sport provides an

environment in which a significant proportion of children are vulnerable to various forms

of violence and bullying. The increased coverage has highlight ed the importance of

ensuring that organisations offering sport to young people implement adequate

safeguarding procedures to reduce the risks of children being harmed.

1.2 Aims and objectives

Building on the terms of reference for the study, the three key aims of the study agreed

at the inception stage were as follows:

 To provide a mappi ng of data on violence again st children in sport in di fferent EU

Member States;

 To analyse how violence against children is dealt with at national and/or international

level and what kind of legal instruments exist to cases of violence against children

in sport and minimise potential risks

 To provide the European Commission with adequate knowledge of existing initiatives

in order to identify where best to focus its efforts and those of the Mem ber States.

1.3 Study method

Scoping stage: literature review / stakeholder consultations

At the scoping stage of the study , a rapid literatu re review of key empi rical studies on

safeguarding children in sport was compl eted. The findings from the review provided

context for the main focus of the study which was mapping of specific policy responses,

measures and initiative, as well as research on good practices.

An initial desk review of available sources was complemented by consultations with the

following stakeholders:

 FIFA;

 Safe Sport International;

 UNICEF;

 Council of Europe;

 NSPCC UK; and

 International Olympic Committee.

The literature can be roughly divided into the f ollowing categories: academic literature

and policy studies/documents. The academic literature focuses on research on the

magnitude of violence against children in sport and effectiveness of specific

safeguarding initiatives. Initially Ecorys identified 19 journal arti cles/research

papers/studies, one European publication and one book on saf eguarding initiatives and