Ahead of Paris Olympic Games, SafeSport Issues Findings of National Athlete Survey

Results underscore need for sport culture change, will guide prevention strategies

DENVER, Colorado (July 18, 2024) — The U.S. Center for SafeSport (the Center) today released the findings of its second ever Athlete Culture and Climate Survey. The purpose of the survey was to gain a better understanding of the experiences of athletes, particularly when it comes to emotional, physical, and sexual abuse in sport.

“The benefits of sport can and should last a lifetime. That’s what all athletes deserve, but it is not what many experience,” Ju’Riese Colón, CEO, U.S. Center for SafeSport said. “These survey results reinforce our efforts to change sport culture and will guide the Center’s development of education and strategies for engaging athletes and survivors.”

While the 2020 survey included athletes 18 and older within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement (the Movement), the 2024 version extended participation to adult athletes outside of this group to better understand the experiences of athletes of all levels as well as the potential differences between those participating within and outside of the Movement. Nearly 3,800 athletes representing 67 sports responded substantively to the survey.

“Data on safeguarding athletes from abuse is limited, and the Center is committed to conducting our own research to inform our prevention strategies as well as contribute to a better national understanding of the problem and solutions needed to ensure athletes can thrive and fulfill their potential without the fear of harm,” Monica Rivera, Vice President of Education and Research, U.S. Center for SafeSport said.

Summary of Key Findings

While the survey largely focused on questions specific to the challenges of abuse and misconduct in sport, the majority of athletes also had positive experiences.

• • Over 70% of athletes surveyed expressed strong agreement that their athletic experience had a positive impact on their life overall.
  • 62% of those surveyed felt athletes were treated fairly in their sport either frequently or very frequently.

Related to the challenges of abuse and misconduct:

• • 78% shared that they had experienced behaviors related to emotional harm and neglect during their sports involvement.
  • 11% of athletes indicated that they had experienced unwanted sexual contact or sexually explicit behaviors during their sports involvement.
  • More than 2 in 5 athletes (43%) who had unwanted sexual experiences during their sports involvement reported at least one experience occurring when they were under 18.
  • Nearly half (49%) of athletes who experienced mental health struggles during their participation in sports reported having suicidal thoughts.
  • 89% of athletes who experienced unwanted sexual behavior during their sports involvement did not submit a formal complaint or report.

The full 2024 Athlete Culture and Climate Survey details all the findings and includes a breakdown of the methodology. The results will guide the Center’s efforts to:

• • Continue evaluating and improving the approach to investigations of abuse and misconduct;
  • Enhance training, educational content, and ongoing engagement with athletes and survivors;
  • Host information sessions for national governing bodies (NGBs) and athletes to further explore the data;
  • Inform the broader abuse prevention landscape throughout the United States and abroad through research, analysis, and evaluation of the athlete experience; and
  • Prepare for a follow-up survey in 2027 to be released ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The 2024 survey was open January-February and was available in English and Spanish. The questions expanded on the first survey administered in 2020. Survey submissions were anonymous, and the results were compiled by Pacific Research and Evaluation.

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 of 2020 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

1. 1. 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.
   2. 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).
   3. The Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential support at 988lifeline.org or by calling 988.