Safe Sports Commission to launch ‘Safety Bridge’
EXPECT THE SAFE Sports Commission of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Olympic Committee to be more visible.
A commitment via the launch of “The Safety Bridge” will see the commission in the faces and places wherever sports is conducted here in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).
Chair of the commission, Shimano Bailey said that the launch of the Safety Bridge initiative is a continuation of a series of undertakings.
“The Safety Bridge is basically an awareness campaign designed to keep conversations about athlete protection active year round,” Bailey disclosed.
He outlined that it’s a building block from foundations erected last year.
“In 2024, under the theme- Bridging the Gap Between Sports and Safety- the Commission rolled out an introductory course for affiliates covering vital topics such as human trafficking in sports, child protection initiatives, and the psychological effects of abuse on athletic performance.
“Building on this momentum, in 2025, the SVGOC addressed ‘Tough Love in Coaching’ at its Annual General Meeting, exploring the balance between discipline and empathy in athlete development”, Bailey stated.
With these constant engagements, Bailey said the commission was able to create greater awareness among affiliates; involvement therefore became prominent and was mandated.
This presence was pronounced as members of the commission interfaced with attendees of eleven sporting camps hosted by affiliates during the July/August vacation, where safeguarding awareness among young athletes was promoted and emphasized.
As another highlight of the growing need for ‘Safe Sports’, Bailey mentioned that Kia Prince, one of the SVGOC’s Safeguarding Officers, is with the national delegation at theYouth Pan American Games in Asunción, Paraguay, and representing the country in international safeguarding discussions.
Bailey explained that his commission will endeavour to have Safeguard Officers be part of national teams when events are hosted here in St Vincent and the Grenadines or abroad.
The SVGOC’s Safe Sports Commission, was established in 2023 with seven members, and officially launched in 2024. It has been at the forefront of safeguarding initiatives across SVGOC affiliates. Safe Sports Day, 2025, was observed last Friday, August, 8.
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