AOC: All coaches, staff and officials must undergo a mandatory Working with Children Check before they can join the Australian Olympic Team at the 2016 Rio Games.

Concerned by the revelations at the Royal Commission into child sexual abuse, the President of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) John Coates has introduced the policy “to protect all members of our Olympic Teams and create a child safe environment”.  

“In order to properly safeguard our athletes and uphold the behavioural standards required of an Australian Olympic Team member, Working with Children checks are mandatory.”

National sporting federations will be required to ensure that all sport officials nominated for selection for Rio, and all subsequent Olympic Teams, have undertaken the working with children check or equivalent legislative process.

If not, they will be ineligible for selection.

The same rule applies to all Headquarters officials.

Such was his concern, Coates wrote to the Chair of the Royal Commission, The Hon Justice Peter McClellan seeking a meeting. The Commission is now considering a case study on sport and including it with other “vulnerable” areas, church, disabled and indigenous groups. 

Coates has also consulted with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the British Olympic Association (BOA) on child abuse.

“We have been working with the US Olympic Committee and British Olympic Association who have vigorous policies in regard to the safety of children. We will be introducing similar policies in our team agreement to protect all members of our team. 

“It has been suggested to me that this is a bigger problem in American sport than doping.” 

“It is our job to show leadership. Just like what we are trying in our fight against doping in sport, I want us to try and set the highest standard possible here, in protecting athletes, it’s my job,” he said.

AOC