FAME Foundation Marks International Safe Sport Day, Calls For Stronger Safeguarding Systems In Sport

FAME Foundation joins the global community in commemorating International Safe Sport Day, reaffirming its commitment to advancing safer, more inclusive, and athlete-centred sporting environments where every participant is protected from abuse, harassment, discrimination, bullying, neglect, and exploitation.

Observed annually on 8 August, International Safe Sport Day serves as a global platform to promote safeguarding and reinforce the right of every child to participate in sport in a safe, respectful, and supportive environment. This year’s theme, “Safeguarding Should Protect Every Child Involved in Sport,” underscores the urgent need to strengthen safeguarding systems that place the welfare and rights of children at the centre of sport.

As part of this year’s commemoration, FAME Foundation implemented a week-long awareness campaign under the theme, “Safe Sport Starts with Safeguarding.” The campaign features educational content on safeguarding, recognizing the signs of abuse, understanding reporting pathways, promoting athlete wellbeing, and encouraging individuals and organizations to strengthen safeguarding practices. The week-long activities culminate in an Instagram Live discussion with international safeguarding experts to explore practical approaches to building safer sporting environments.

Speaking on the significance of the day, Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, Executive Director of FAME Foundation, emphasized that safeguarding should be viewed as a measure of institutional excellence rather than a compliance exercise.

“Safeguarding is often treated as a response to risk when it should be recognized as a measure of organizational quality. The question is no longer whether an organization has a safeguarding policy, but whether safeguarding influences how decisions are made, how people are recruited, how concerns are handled, and how athletes experience sport every day.”

She noted that the sector must rethink how success in sport is measured.

“We cannot continue to define success in sport solely by participation numbers or podium finishes while overlooking whether participants are genuinely safe. A sporting environment cannot be considered successful if it fails to protect the people at its centre.”

Arabinrin Aderonke further called on sports organizations to move from reactive safeguarding to proactive prevention.

“Organizations should not wait for a safeguarding incident to discover weaknesses in their systems. Effective safeguarding is proactive, evidence-informed, and continuously strengthened through learning, accountability, and independent oversight. Prevention will always be more effective than reaction.”

As part of the campaign, FAME Foundation also introduced the PLAY it DREAM it Safe Sport Pledge, providing individuals and organizations with an opportunity to publicly affirm their commitment to safeguarding and to advancing safer sporting environments.

FAME Foundation remains committed to strengthening safeguarding capacity, promoting athlete wellbeing, and supporting initiatives that ensure sport continues to be a platform for education, empowerment, inclusion, and positive social change.

Take the PLAY it DREAM it Safe Sport Pledge:
https://bit.ly/PlayitDreamitSafeSportPledge