Child Helpline International at the Olympism365 Summit – Advancing Safe Sport for Children 

Reflecting the Summit’s central theme, Sport for a Better World, the event brought together more than 300 global stakeholders to examine how the power and platform of sport can be better leveraged to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.  

With global data indicating that up to 85% of sports participants may experience some form of violence, there is an urgent need for tailored, locally driven safeguarding solutions. In response, the IOC Executive Board approved plans to establish Safe Sport Regional Hubs in every region of the world, beginning with pilot initiatives in Southern Africa, the Pacific Islands, and Europe. As part of the Southern African pilot, the Olympism365 Summit marked the first opportunity for CHI to promote this new collaboration with the IOC and the African Union Sports Council Region 5. Focused on conducting a feasibility study to explore how a Safe Sports Hub could be effectively implemented in the southern African region, CHI facilitates strong involvement of its members and partners in Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to ensure the study and its recommendations reflect the voices and perspectives of children from across the region. Research and data collection efforts will include a mapping and gap analysis of the child protection systems in the ten countries, analyzing data from children’s contacts, and engaging directly with survivors, child helpline counsellors, and other child protection practitioners.  

This collaboration comes at a pivotal moment for the Olympic Movement, as leadership transitions from President Thomas Bach to President-elect Kirsty Coventry, the first woman and the first African to hold the position. Reflecting on this milestone, CHI Executive Director (Interim) Helen Mason stated: “It was encouraging to witness the IOC’s continued commitment to child safeguarding under the new leadership. I am particularly pleased to see a woman from Zimbabwe, at the heart of our pilot region, taking on this vital role and reaffirming the IOC’s dedication to making sport safe, inclusive, and empowering for all, especially for children.”   

As a next concrete step in this endeavour, CHI will host a full-day side event dedicated to advancing the Safe Sport Regional Hub initiative during its International Consultation, bringing together members and partners from across and beyond the region on 27 June in Livingstone, Zambia. For more information on this project and opportunities to contribute, please contact me at Thomas@childhelplineinternational.org.