Culture change taking root, additional $10M needed annually to meet growing demand.
DENVER – The U.S. Center for SafeSport (the Center) released its Annual Report for 2023.
During its seventh year of operation, the Center:
- Fielded more than 7,500 reports of abuse and misconduct
- Initiated significant process improvements throughout the organization to improve efficiency, trauma sensitivity, and communication
- Delivered essential abuse prevention education to athletes, coaches, and parents throughout the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement and beyond
- Audited every National Governing Body (NGB) to ensure compliance with safety policies
Reports continue their year-over-year increase, rising by more than 30% from 2022 to 2023. The Center considers this a sign that people better understand red-flag behavior and are speaking up when they know or even suspect that abuse or misconduct is occurring.
“As a result of our work, a culture shift in sport is taking root,” Ju’Riese Colón, CEO, U.S. Center for SafeSport said. “Athletes are rejecting the notion that sexual harassment is inevitable, coaches aren’t turning a blind eye to inappropriate behavior, and parents aren’t tolerating abusive practices. Together, we are establishing a culture where people are compelled to throw open the curtains on abuse rather than sweep it under the rug.”
The Center’s 2023 Annual Report provides a detailed overview of operations, milestones, and data from last year. Highlights include:
- Delivery of 5,652,257 online courses to 3,901,951 individuals to better prepare the sport community to recognize, prevent, and respond to abuse since 2017
- Development of specialized educational resources, including courses for Youth and Teens, a Bullying Prevention Handbook and a Parent and Guardian’s Handbook for Safer Sport
- Conducted 52 audits of NGBs as well as 30 pre-audit site visits to ensure sport organizations are adhering to common-sense safety policies
- 2,040 individuals who are restricted or banned from sport are listed on the Centralized Disciplinary Database (CDD)
- Reports of abuse and misconduct are up by more than 30% since 2022, and have increased by more than 2,500% since 2017
As reports continue to rise, the Center’s funding remains static. The Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, & Amateur Athletes Act of 2020, which mandates a $20 million annual payment by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) to fund the Center’s operations, does not account for rising inflation, an exponential increase in reports, nor the potential addition of new sports and millions of new athletes to the Olympic & Paralympic Movement.
Colón raised the need for additional funds when she testified before hearings of Subcommittees in both the House of Representatives and Senate in March of 2024. Other witnesses and legislators present at the hearings widely acknowledged that the Center requires additional resources.
“The safety of our nation’s athletes is too important to shortchange,” said Colón. “Regardless of whether additional funding continues to come through the USOPC as required by federal law, or directly from federal appropriations, Congressional action is needed to maintain existing funding and secure $10 million more annually to fully fund the execution of the Center’s mission.”
Need for Abuse Prevention in Sport
The U.S. Center for SafeSport is the nation’s only independent organization dedicated to ending sexual, physical, and emotional abuse in U.S. Olympic and Paralympic sport. The Center emerged in response to high profile cases of sexual abuse of minor athletes within Olympic and Paralympic sport in the mid-2010s. With the mission of making athlete wellbeing the centerpiece of the nation’s sport culture, the Center has since been setting safety policies, and receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints of abuse and misconduct. The Center also serves as an educational resource for sports organizations at all levels, from recreational sports organizations to professional leagues.
With the goal of ensuring athletes within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement are safe, supported, and strengthened, the Center:
- Establishes safety policies, including the SafeSport Code and the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP).
- Investigates and resolves allegations of abuse and misconduct and levies sanctions, including temporary and permanent bans from sport.
- Delivers comprehensive abuse prevention education within and outside of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.
About the U.S. Center for SafeSport
The Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 codified the U.S. Center for SafeSport (the Center), as the nation’s safe sport organization. It furthered the Center’s independence while underscoring its authority to hold individuals accountable. It also charged the Center with developing policies, procedures, and training to prevent abuse and misconduct in sport.
In October of 2020, the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act became law, even further strengthening the Center’s independence and oversight functions while mandating minimum funding requirements for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
The Center opened its doors in March of 2017.
Reporting and Resources
Report here to the U.S. Center for SafeSport if you have experienced abuse or misconduct—or if you have reasonable suspicion of abuse or misconduct inflicted by someone in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. You can also call the Center at: 833-587-7233.
RAINN’s 24/7 online hotline is available for crisis intervention, referrals, or emotional support at any time. You can also call RAINN at: 800-656-HOPE (4673).
The Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential support at 988lifeline.org or by calling 988.
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