TORONTO – AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement to join Abuse-Free Sport, the new independent program to prevent and address maltreatment in sport.
AthletesCAN, and its stakeholders, will have access to the services of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC), which serves as the central hub of Abuse-Free Sport, following a transition period, which will end no later than Dec. 21, 2022
“We are happy to have joined Abuse-Free Sport and to soon have the OSIC to administer our safe sport complaints. As the only independent organization representing Canada’s national team athletes, the development, implementation and successful execution of this new mechanism has been a priority for our members for many years. We look forward to collaborating with the OSIC and creating a safer sport experience for all.”
During the transition period, AthletesCAN is completing full adoption of the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS), which it must do before it can become part of the Abuse-Free Sport program, and making the required policy changes.
Prior to Dec. 21, 2022, AthletesCAN members who have experienced or witnessed abuse will continue to have access to independent third-party services through AthletesCAN’s Independent Case Manager Professor Gretchen Kerr of the University of Toronto, by contacting [email protected] or by calling 647-383-9910.
There is more information about the Abuse-Free Sport program HERE, on the OSIC HERE, and on AthletesCAN.ca HERE.
About Abuse-Free Sport
Abuse-Free Sport is an independent program that is part of a growing national movement to rid Canadian sport of all forms of harassment, discrimination and abuse. As a Program Signatory, AthletesCAN is an active player in this movement.
Unlike the previous approach, where each national sport organization created its own system for dealing with complaints of maltreatment, this is a centralized “one-stop shop.” It is independent and led by experts in their fields, using education and research to prevent maltreatment at all levels of sport.
About AthletesCAN
AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, is the only fully independent and most inclusive athlete organization in the country and the first organization of its kind in the world. As the voice of Canadian national team athletes, AthletesCAN ensures an athlete-centered sport system by developing athlete leaders who influence sport policy and, as role models, inspire a strong sport culture. Follow us on social @AthletesCAN and Join #TheCollective today.
For more information, please contact:
Alan Hudes
Manager, Communications and Sport Partnerships
AthletesCAN
613-526-4025 Ext. 224
[email protected]