Safeguarding Athletes
Safeguarding athletes refers to the protection and well-being of individuals involved in sports, including athletes of all ages and levels of competition. Over the years, numerous instances of abuse, harassment, discrimination, and unethical behavior have come to light within the sports industry. These incidents have shed light on the need for comprehensive measures to ensure the safety, welfare, and rights of athletes.
As in any sport, there is a risk of abuse or misconduct. Wrestling, as one of the oldest sports which requires intense physical contact and effort, is not immune. This can be physical, emotional, or sexual abuse by coaches, teammates, or other individuals involved in the sport. Therefore, the implementation of comprehensive safeguarding measures becomes paramount to prevent and address such incidents, ensuring the safety and well-being of our athletes and promoting a positive and supportive environment to ensure the development and growth of the sport.
Safeguarding athletes remains a top priority for UWW. The physical nature of wrestling underscores the need for robust measures to prevent abuse, harassment, and discrimination. The UWW Safeguarding Programs aims to strengthen our commitment to creating a safe and positive environment for our athletes worldwide.
Empower, Protect, Wrestle with Respect - Belgrade 2023
A Safe Sport booth was organized at the 1st Wrestling Olympic Games Qualifier in Belgrade in September 2023. This initiative specifically targeted top-tier athletes, coaches, and team doctors. Explore the details of this event on our website: https://uww.org/article/uww-raises-awareness-around-safe-sport-belgrade-booth
To actively engage participants, a quiz was conducted both during the training camp leading up to the event and in the warm-up area during the championships. This interactive and educational quiz served as a valuable tool, fostering awareness about safe sport practices, with a particular focus on safeguarding athletes. Participants who took part in the quiz were rewarded with specially branded gifts featuring safe sport slogans.
Wrestle Clean! Say NO to Doping campaign 2022
"Wrestle Clean, Say NO to doping" is an awareness and education campaign designed to raise the awareness of antidoping among elite athletes.
Safeguarding Athletes Workshops
United World Wrestling invited the staff from the International Olympic Committee and hosted a 'Safeguarding Athletes' workshop for the UWW Athletes Commission members in May 2019 in the the headquarters.
This topic has been incorporated in all UWW educational programs, and on-site activities are planned to be organized during a few selected competitions.
