Online Abuse of Athletes - CASES members shape new safeguarding publication

Two of CASES’ Integrity Advisory Group members have played a key role in the publication of a new discussion paper on the online abuse of athletes.

Niall Murphy and Dr Emma Kavanagh FCASES co-authored Safe Sport International’s paper – Safeguarding in Sport: Online Abuse of Athletes that was launched earlier this year.

According to Safe Sport International, online abuse is one of the fastest-growing safeguarding risks in sport — and athletes are paying the price.

The report brings together evidence from elite sport and esports, athlete testimony, and safeguarding best practice to explore:

• The scale and forms of online abuse athletes face
  
• The real impact on wellbeing, performance and careers
  
• Why telling athletes to “switch off” is no longer a solution
  
• The practical, athlete-centred actions sport can take now
  
  

Niall Murphy, Senior Manager, Risk and Investigations at Sportradar

“In my role at Sportradar, working with sports organisations and athletes, we see the scale and impact of online abuse every day. As this paper with Safe Sport International demonstrates, this is a serious safeguarding issue that the sporting community needs to confront proactively, and there are technological, educational, and safeguarding solutions that could be implemented now to protect athletes and reduce the risk of harm.”

Dr Emma Kavanagh FCASES, is a Reader in Sport Psychology, HCPC Registered Sport Psychologist School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University.

She said, “I have long been interested in the impact of online environments through my work as both a sport psychologist and researcher. Online technologies have undeniably transformed modern sport; however, realising their positive potential requires deliberate efforts to foster pro-social and constructive online engagement, while actively safeguarding against online abuse in its various forms. This is essential if we are to meaningfully support the wellbeing of all those involved in sport.”

You can read the full report here

Or read the companion blog that summarises the key findings and links directly to the full report download.

The paper is intended to support, sports governing bodies, event organisers, safeguarding leads and athlete representatives.