Virtus Highlights Importance Of Safeguarding On Safe Sport Day
August 8 is Safe Sport Day, a global moment to raise awareness about the importance of protecting young or vulnerable people in sport. Virtus proudly stands with the International Safeguards for Children in Sport to support this essential cause.
Every person has the right to enjoy sport in a safe, respectful, and supportive environment — no matter where they play, what sport they choose, or their level of ability.
At Virtus, we are committed to safeguarding the rights of all children and vulnerable adults across our events, activities, and membership. This includes protecting them from any form of abuse — physical, emotional, or sexual.
Athletes with intellectual impairment can be at a greater risk, as they face challenges in communicating, learning, or understanding things. This may make them more vulnerable and less likely to report harmful behaviour.
To help prevent this, the International Safeguards for Children in Sport outlines eight key steps for creating safer environments:
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Have a clear safeguarding policy
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Know what to do if you’re concerned
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Offer guidance and support
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Understand and address potential risks
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Set clear rules around acceptable and unacceptable behaviour
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Recruit and train staff safely
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Involve partners in safeguarding efforts
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Monitor, evaluate, and continue learning
This year for #SafeSportDay, we want to celebrate our safeguarding champions. We want to thank all our Virtus members, coaches, staff, volunteers, officials and athletes, who make Virtus events and activities safe.
Virtus has safeguarding code in place to ensure that everyone — especially children and vulnerable adults — are safe, respected, and protected from harm. We encourage every individual and organisation within the Virtus family to take this responsibility seriously.
As part of our commitment, Virtus also offers a free online course on safeguarding through the Virtus Academy.
Let’s work together to make sport a safe place for everyone.
