By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
In a significant step toward strengthening collaboration on Safe Sport, the National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone has (NOC-SLE) has appointed Abu Bakar Bangura as the official Safeguarding Officer.
Bangura, who was offered a scholarship by the NOC-SLE to study Safe Sport at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne, Switzerland, In 2023, graduated last year, an experience that develop robust strategies to prevent harassment and abuse in sport one of the most pressing issues facing athletes and organizations today.
The course aimed to deliver the following skills and knowledge to participants:
Describe the core concepts involved in safeguarding athletes in and through sport: the building blocks necessary to create a safe environment for everyone in sport.
Offer advice and support to their sports organisation in the development, adoption, implementation and monitoring of safeguarding policies, procedures, and practices in line with the organisation’s values, code of ethics, code of conduct, and good governance principles.
Describe the core components of an athlete-centred approach to safeguarding based on the fundamental right of all persons to participate in Safe Sport: Sport, which is fair, equitable, accountable, and free from all forms of non-accidental violence.
Demonstrate knowledge of and competence in what is needed to ensure effective implementation of these core components.
Describe their role (and that of others inside and outside their organisation) in implementing appropriate, athlete-centered systems for receiving and responding to all reported safeguarding concerns, including all forms of harassment and abuse, received by their sports organisation.
Demonstrate a sound understanding of mechanisms to monitor and evaluate the implementation of safeguarding policies, procedures, and practices.
Following his appointment, the newly appointed Safeguarding Officer said it’s not just a role, but a responsibility he embrace with commitment, to ensure that every athlete, coach, and official in Sierra Leone enjoys sports in an environment that is safe, respectful, and supportive.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues at the NOC-SL, sports federations, athletes, and partners to build a stronger culture of Safe Sport in Sierra Leone. Together, we can protect the spirit of sports,” he affirmed, noting that Sport is one of the most powerful tools we have for national development, peacebuilding, and creating jobs for young people. But when abuse, exploitation, or unsafe practices are ignored, sport can do the opposite of what it is meant to do, it can harm individuals and communities.”