Sexual violence in sport: 28% of young people concerned

In the dynamic environment of sports, where enthusiasm and competition converge, there is a complex reality: the safety of athletes is put to the test. Unfortunately, cases of psychological, physical and sexual violence have increasingly surfaced in recent years. Between 1998 and 2018, nearly 340 coaches in Canadian amateur sport have been charged with a sexual offence, across 36 different sports¹. The following article presents shocking statistics related to this worrying problem, with the aim of raising awareness and bringing about change. Sport should be a playground where the safety and well-being of all participants are guaranteed.

Violence can be analyzed in its various forms. Whether physical, psychological or sexual, violence has a critical impact on a person’s life. Here are a few statistics which show that, unfortunately, violence is also present in the world of sport.

Here are some striking statistics relating to this type of violence:

1. “[Sylvie Parent] surveyed over 1,000 young athletes, aged 14 to 17, who play organized sports in Quebec. Of these, 28% reported having experienced at least one episode of sexual violence.”² Sylvie Parent is a professor in the Physical Education Department at Université Laval. Her research focuses mainly on violence in sport.
2. The same study also revealed that 20% of respondents said they had been victimized by their coach, while 60% said they had been victimized by another athlete².
3. “According to a study commissioned by the French Ministry of Sports in 2007, 31% of sportsmen and women believe or declare they have been confronted with some form of violence, and in 57.2% of cases this violence takes the form of harassment, 23.5% of sexual abuse and 19.3% of sexual assault”³.
4. According to the same study, “7 out of 10 victims have experienced one or two episodes of sexual violence.
5. Among these victims, 2/10 report having experienced between 3 and 10 episodes and 1/10 report more than ten events.”³.

Here are some striking statistics on psychological violence and bullying:

1. “In Quebec, a study of 1,055 young athletes aged 14 to 17 revealed that 79.2% of them would have experienced at least one form of psychological violence during their sporting career”⁴. This study was conducted by Sylvie Parent.
2. The same study states that “39.9% would have been victims of at least one form of physical violence, 35.7% would have suffered neglect in sport and 28.2% sexual violence.”⁴
3. A study in Australia also states that “52.1% of athletes experienced psychological abuse from a coach during their childhood.”⁴
4. According to Sylvie Parent, “around 10% to 15% of young people involved in a sporting context would be victims of bullying during training, competitions or any other event related to the practice of sport.”⁵
5. “In Quebec, the work carried out by Gendron and his collaborators indicates that more than 50% of young soccer players aged 12 to 17 were victims of verbal and physical bullying in the year preceding the study.”⁶ Martin Gendron is a professor-researcher at the Université du Québec à Rimouski specializing in bullying in the world of sport.

In conclusion, the statistics revealed in this article highlight a sometimes overlooked but crucial reality in the world of sport: the prevalence of violence in its various forms. These disturbing figures are not simply data, but a call to action. They underline the importance of adopting concrete measures to ensure the safety and well-being of sports players. Raising awareness and educating people about the various forms of violence are crucial steps towards meaningful change.

Sources:

[1] Radio Canada, (2019). 340 coaches charged with sexual offences in Canada in 20 years, more than 600 victims. Retrieved from the following URL: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/sports/1151877/enquete-entraineurs-canada-accusations-delits-sexuels-athletes-mineurs

[2] Nadeau, J. (2018). Un jeune athlète sur quatre victime de violence sexuelle. Retrieved from the following URL: https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/528513/etude-sur-les-agressions-sexuelles-chez-les-jeunes-sportifs

[3] Brohm, J. M. (2021). Les Débordements dans le sport. Emprise mentale et agressions sexuelles. Topique, 152(1), 83-97.

[4] INSPQ, (2021). Violence interpersonnelle chez les jeunes en contexte sportif. Retrieved from the following URL: https://www.inspq.qc.ca/securite-prevention-de-la-violence-et-des-traumatismes/prevention-de-la-violence-interpersonnelle/dossiers/violence-interpersonnelle-chez-les-jeunes-en-contexte-sportif

[5] INSPQ, (2019). Bullying in sport. Retrieved from the following URL: https://www.inspq.qc.ca/intimidation/jeunes/intimidation-en-contexte-sportif

[6] INSPQ, La violence envers les athlètes dans un contexte sportif. Retrieved from the following URL: https://www.inspq.qc.ca/sites/default/files/publications/2380_chapitre-8.pdf