USA Gymnastics has produced a Bill of Rights for athletes that outlines what anyone taking part in the sport can expect.
It provides eight key areas in which those rights are laid out.
They include the right to:
Participate in Gymnastics
Train and Compete Safely
Have their Personal Health and Wellness Prioritized
Be treated with Dignity and Respect
Receive Proper Instruction
Provide Input on Matters that directly affect them
Voice Opinions on Issues that affect the Gymnastics community
Integrity and Transparency
The full description of what each of the eight rights means is published below and this Bill of Rights will be prominently displayed in clubs and venues as well as proactively pushed out to all those entering the sport.
It is in part a reaction to the abuse scandal that engulfed the sport in the US after the arrest and conviction of former National Team doctor Larry Nasser in 2017.
The document was a collaborative effort between USA Gymnastics and members of the organization’s elected Athletes’ Council, which serves as a conduit between USA Gymnastics and athletes within the sport.
The bill was designed to provide a shared community commitment to athlete wellness while codifying certain rights that are central to creating a culture of health and safety within the sport.
It is also intended to help athletes and the parents of minor athletes feel comfortable and supported in advocating for themselves and others.
Like any good document aimed at producing a code of behaviour that is easily understood across age ranges, it is short and effective.
Point seven on the right to protest and use the media to support social or political movements will likely come under the spotlight when it comes to the Olympics where work is also underway on allowing for protest while at the same time maintaining the sporting arena as a safe space for all.
As ever the challenge with allowing free speech and political activism is that it is not always your own beliefs that have the right to be promoted.
Sport for Business Partners
