Canadian Olympic Committee joins Centre for Sport and Human Rights

By The Canadian Press on April 23, 2024.

The Canadian Olympic Committee has become the first national Olympic committee in the world to join the Centre for Sport and Human Rights. Canada's Kaitlyn Lawes wears an Olympic Rings necklace during a women's curling match against the Russian Olympic Committee at the Beijing Winter Olympics, Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Brynn Anderson

TORONTO – The Canadian Olympic Committee has become the first national Olympic committee in the world to join the Centre for Sport and Human Rights.

The centre based in Switzerland launched in 2018 to promote human rights in sport and prevent violations of those rights.

Former Irish president and former United Nations human rights commissioner Mary Robinson is a founding patron.

Canada’s Olympic Committee joins World Rowing and the international field hockey federation, as well as companies McDonald’s and AirBnB, among organizations who say they’re committed to both recognizing their human rights responsibilities in sport and ensuring responsible practices in sport sectors.

Canada has undergone a safe-sport reckoning in recent years, with athletes testifying to parliamentary committees about abuse and maltreatment they’ve experienced.

The federal government has introduced various measures to address what’s been called a safe sport crisis but has stopped short of a national inquiry.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 23, 2024.