On Monday 8 July, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, in collaboration with the consultancy Ecorys, published a study on the rights of athletes at major sporting events.
Entitled ‘Study on Athletes’ Rights in and around Big Sport Events’, the analysis, commissioned in line with the EU Work Plan for Sport 2021-2024, shows that political and public pressure on athletes has increased, largely as a result of social networking.
These platforms have transformed athletes into influential public figures, making analysis of their rights essential, particularly in the run-up to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The study, conducted in several stages, includes interviews with sport federations, athlete representative bodies and academic experts. A review of the literature identified best practice in protecting athletes’ rights.
Three case studies illustrated good practices and potential violations of athletes’ rights at major sporting events. Thirty-seven participants attended the online workshop organised by Ecorys on 14 February 2024, bringing together representatives from various sport federations and athletes. Numerous interviews were conducted with top athletes, coaches and sports law experts to gather first-hand accounts of the challenges faced by athletes.
The report identifies an increased need for resources dedicated to athletes’ mental health, recommending the presence of mental health professionals to support athletes before, during and after major sporting events.
The study recommends continuing to facilitate structured dialogue and the exchange of knowledge on athletes’ rights between stakeholders, including international sports federations and athletes’ organisations.
The conclusions and recommendations are intended to inform future policy discussions, support European decision-makers and raise public awareness of the importance of protecting athletes’ well-being.
The study: https://aeur.eu/f/d0g (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)