In light of the findings of the Whyte Review, Sport England and UK Sport have committed to strengthening safeguarding and welfare.
The review, which began in 2020 and concluded in 2022, discovered’systemic’ abuse in gymnastics.
It found that gymnast wellbeing and welfare “had not been at the centre of British Gymnastics’ culture”.
The new plans are intended to benefit all sports.
“We have a responsibility to the gymnasts, parents, coaches, and others to ensure that their bravery in stepping forward and contributing to the Review has a lasting legacy across all of sport,” Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of Sport England, and Sally Munday, CEO of UK Sport, said in a statement.
“Today is a step forward, but there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that all sports are consistently safe, welcoming, and inclusive for all.”
Munday also stated that they would keep “a very close eye” on British Gymnastics.
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The improvements have been set out across five areas with 19 commitments, designed to “support improved safeguarding and wellbeing for everyone involved in sport”.
Coaching and workforce support, performance athlete support, good governance, dispute resolution, and creating safer environments for participants are the five areas.
Among the commitments are increased access to expert safeguarding support for organizations and funding for a national network of welfare officers.
A coach registration scheme must also be piloted with a small group of sports over the next 18 months.
Hollingsworth stated that the scheme would be used to determine coaches’ “fitness to practice,” both technically and in terms of creating a safe and inclusive environment.