Implementing an Organizational Trauma-Informed Approach to Olympic Sites

An Urgent Priority to Protect Elite Athlete Well-being During Olympic Games Participation

Bibliographic Data

ID3756261
AuthorsJenny Mcmahon (0000-0002-1079-8939, University of Tasmania, corresponding author), Kerry Rebecca Mcgannon (0000-0002-8614-697X, Laurentian University)
Year2024
Publication date2024-06-25
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Behavioral Scientist (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-7642 • E-ISSN: 1552-3381
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/00027642241261253
OpenAlexW4400011759
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited21

Abuse has been acknowledged as an adverse event which leads to trauma and long-term health effects in sport. Given the high rates of abuse occurring in elite sport contexts, many Olympic athletes will not only be subjected to abuse while residing and competing at the Olympic Games but may also experience trauma and its effects. In this article, we build on the calls for a trauma-informed approach in elite sport to outline a rationale for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to implement an organizational trauma-informed approach to Olympic sites. Such an approach is essential because trauma researchers outside, and inside sport contexts, have outlined that when organizations are not trauma aware, and practices are not trauma-informed, unintended "unsafe" responses may result. To contextualize our rationale for an organizational trauma-informed approach, we provide examples of Olympic athletes' stories to demonstrate the abuse and trauma they experienced while competing at the Olympic Games. To build on the human right that all athletes participating in the Olympic Games have the right to do so safely and free from harm, we further outline what an organizational trauma-informed approach involves and why it is important to limit re-traumatization risk. We further reflect on how being trauma-informed extends a duty of care to better protect athletes, which should be a responsibility of the IOC

Athletes · Elite · Elite Athletes · Physical therapy · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Applied Psychology · Gun Ownership and Violence Research · Medicine · Psychology · Sports injuries and prevention · Workplace Violence and Bullying

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access