Opinion: U.S. Olympic athletes need more than just fans at the Games. We’re in Paris for their safety.
Medals should never come at the cost of athlete well-being. That’s the message the U.S. Center for SafeSport is bringing directly to the Paris Games. For the first time, the Center is sending a delegation to the Olympics and Paralympics to remind athletes we are in their corner.
For all the celebration and excitement of the Games, there is still a long shadow cast by abuse and misconduct. The failures of the past will plague the present without accountability and clear rules for everyone to play by.
The recent Olympic qualification of a Dutch beach volleyball player who was convicted of raping a 12-year-old is a striking example. His embrace by national and international sports bodies rolls back the clock on culture change and sends a dangerous message that victory is worth more than the safety of young athletes and the experiences of survivors.
