๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ๐งโ๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฒ. The Olympics, the worldโs largest sporting event, features ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฌ, with ๐๐,๐๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ from ๐๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐๐ฌ. In the UK, the selection process is highly competitive, with thousands of athletes training rigorously for years. However, only a tiny fraction of these athletes ultimately qualify for the Olympics. The journey to the Olympics is incredibly challenging, requiring not only talent and skills but also dedication and the support of those around them.
Our campaign,ย โThey Think Itโs All Overโ, addresses all sports. Each one has potential links to sexual violence and domestic abuse, affecting children and adults of any gender. Our campaign aims to highlight the dark corners of sports where abuse is hidden. We believe that more research needs to be conducted into the relationship between sexual violence, domestic abuse, and sports. Understanding the full scope of the problem is essential to tackling it effectively.
There areย 151,000 sports clubs in the UK, from professional leagues to grassroots clubs. Weโre calling for better safeguarding measures to protect players, fan bases, supporters, followers, friends, and families. ๐๐จ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฉ ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ก, ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ, ๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐.
No one should fear abuse when they step onto the pitch, the court, or the field.
Over the course of our campaign, weโll be sharing statistics and stories from a range of sports, highlighting that this issue is not confined to one sport. We want to show the world that abuse in and outside of sports is a widespread problem that needs urgent attention as part of a societal change.
Hereโs how you can get involved:
Spread the Word
Share our campaign with your friends, family, and local sports clubs to advocate for safe environments that stand against abuse and enable people disclose any abuse in a safe and inclusive environment using hashtag #TheyThinkItsAllOver.
Support the Research
Weโre advocating for more research into the relationship between sexual violence, domestic abuse, and sports.
Promote Safe Sports
Advocate for better safeguarding measures in your local sports clubs. From professional leagues to grassroots clubs.
Stay Informed
Over the course of our campaign, weโll be sharing statistics and stories from a range of sports.
Follow us to stay updated and learn more about the extent of the problem.
Facebook: @FirstLightSW
Twitter: @FirstLightSW
Linkedin: @First Light Southwest
Instagram: @FirstLight.SW
Remember, change starts with you.
Join us, because sports shouldnโt come with abuse.
