Child protection in sports: presented new measures against abuse!

Child protection in sports: presented new measures against abuse!

On February 7, 2025, an important event took place in the stadium of FC Blau-Weiß Linz, in which the protection of children in sport was discussed. The sports roof association Askö heralded an important discussion about sexualized violence in sport under the motto "Child protection in sports. We talk about it". Keynote speaker Hajo Seppelt, a renowned journalist and ARD expert, brought up alarming facts about sexual abuse in German swimming. Seppelt emphasized that this topic has been ignored for decades and that it is now high time to discuss it openly to prevent abuse, as it has repeatedly preceded in the past. This reported the APA-OTS.

The event also included two talks, in which several experts took part, including State Councilor Mag. Michael Lindner and Christoph Schösswendter, sports director of FC Blau-Weiß Linz. They unanimously agreed that joint action is necessary for child protection in sports clubs. Hermann Krist, President of the ASKÖ, presented a new "Askö Child Protection Concept", which was developed in collaboration with 18 multipliers from the regional associations. This should help to implement child protection measures in every sports club and thus not to offer violence and abuse. This information is available at www.askoe.at, as the crown reported.

a comprehensive protection concept

The newly developed child protection concept includes various measures to raise awareness, education and prevention. In the future, special contacts will be available in the sports clubs to inform about child protection and to accompany the implementation of the measures. Krist emphasized the importance of establishing a network of child protection officers, especially in the approximately 4,300 clubs that offer over 200 sports. With the “Child Protection” project, the ASKÖ wants to tackle abuse and violence in sports clubs, as President Krist warns: “It will be more and more!” The event was recorded and can now be traced on the ASKÖ website.