Sexual violence: French sport in full examination of conscience

Everyone hopes that this Friday, February 21, 2020 will be a milestone in the history of the sport. Gathered in Paris to participate in the National Convention for the Prevention of Sexual Violence in Sport, ministers, state secretaries and presidents of sports bodies shared the same injunction: fear must change sides.

We have come together to tell the victims of sexual violence that they are no longer alone. That we are determined to protect our children better tomorrow than we did yesterday. Act quickly and strongly #StopAuxViolencesSexuelles pic.twitter.com/u7FTaCf2is

"Thanks to the liberation of speech in my book (" A so long silence ", Plon), shame turns into pride, and that is the greatest victory, my most beautiful Olympic gold medal", said former skater Sarah Abitbol, ​​with emotion, who brought awareness to the world of sport. At the same time, triggering a long ovation from the entire amphitheater of the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF).

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Strengthened by his testimony, the meeting participants then launched avenues of reflection intended to lay the foundations for a prevention plan from the executive to the sports federations. Interview with one of the participants in the convention, Philippe Liotard, sociologist of sport, to understand the crisis that sport is going through.

Is the sport environment an environment conducive to sexual violence ?

Philippe Liotard: Yes, because the sports environment produces vulnerability. Athletes are vulnerable in the sense that they are exposed to a risk. Vulnerability is built in a relationship in which there is an abuse of power, an abuse of authority or an abuse of trust, as in the coach / coach relationship. In clubs, we see that children, people with disabilities and especially women are the most exposed to this type of violence.

There is no type of sexual violence. When tackling this theme, it is important to mention all forms of aggression so that no victim feels isolated. They can therefore come from men but also from women, even if they are a minority. They affect girls as much as boys. They can take place between heterosexuals but also between homosexuals. They can also arise between athletes. From simple strokes to rape, all patterns of sexual assault exist.

🗣 My message to the sports federations:
"Do not tell yourself that what is happening at the moment is negative for the image of sport, on the contrary: it is positive to show how much an entire sector can decide to mobilize to put an end to sexual violence!" »Pic.twitter.com/OsPlGFW4OP

Is the role of the coach particularly important today?

This violence is frequent in sport because there is a close relationship between the coach and his athlete. There is also work on the body which is at the center of all attention. This work can blow up certain modesties and inhibitions. The body tool then gradually becomes an erotic object for the predator. We must not neglect the mechanisms of seduction of young people vis-à-vis the supervision. There may be a form of admiration of the youngster for his coach, which is found in the Gabriel Matzneff case. In this case, it is up to the adult to know how to set the limits.

Beyond the trainer / trained relationship, there is also the isolation of athletes with their loved ones which can promote sexual violence. Young people enrolled in sports study hundreds of kilometers from their families are all found victims. The numerous internships and trips provide opportunities for attackers to take action. This can also happen in a very harmless way. How many times do we see boys having fun running around in girls' rooms or in showers and having fun trapping them. It is a great classic of mixed encounters but it is mainly sexist games that produce victims.

Sport is also seen as a commitment that involves sacrifice. In this context, the career can take precedence over self-protection. Some prefer to remain silent, thus believing that they are preserving their careers. In her book, Sarah Abitbol recounts hesitating a time to leave for Nice to change trainer but she knows that if she makes this choice, she will have to end her international career. She therefore chooses her career.

Finally, there is often a conflict of loyalty that arises with families. Children do not dare to tell their parents what is happening to them for fear of disappointing them because these adults have invested in different ways: financially, by moving near the club ...

Can we expect a 'before and after February 21' in the fight against sexual violence in sport, as some speakers have suggested?

Something is happening in sport. There will necessarily be an 'after' because it is the first time that a Convention brings together so many actors and not the least. Two ministers - Roxana Maracineanu and Nicole Belloubet, two secretaries of state - Marlène Schiappa and Adrien taquet, former ministers like Marie-George Buffet, not to mention the many heads of federations, athletes, association leaders, academics, all answered present. The state and the sports management are therefore fully involved. The Youth and Sports administration is only waiting for the green light to act on the files that we are going to ask it to deal with.

If there is, at the end of the Convention, a real desire to put things into the long term, there will indeed be a before and after. But you have to be careful. Roselyne Bachelot's plan to combat sexual and gender-based violence in 2008 was activated for two years, then it gradually fell into oblivion, because we moved on to something else.

What solutions were envisaged during this Convention to overcome this scourge?

That there is a ministerial awareness and of the sports supervision, it is very good. But what is needed are concrete proposals. Some speakers have already launched interesting avenues such as awareness and prevention actions, support and supervision of supervisors. These first steps can be taken immediately. There is also the extension to all sport volunteers of the integrity check, intended to check their criminal records and until then only systematic for professional educators.

A national directory of sports associations will be created #StopAuxViolencesSexuelles pic.twitter.com/ONiA2oN1BD

The main thing to understand is that everyone can act. At the local level, there are many associations for victim assistance and prevention who know these questions. Today, the members of the federations are afraid, they do not know what to do with the many stories that go back. And in the field, very few people are really trained in these issues. While everyone needs to be made aware of these issues, from volunteers to leaders.

The danger is to let silence settle. Too often, for fear of suspicion, we close our eyes, we cover our ears. So we must remain vigilant and know how to recognize the warning signals of a victim. A person who changes behavior must challenge. Just like repeated showers, a drop in performance, loss of appetite, isolation, aggressive behavior ... All this can be learned in the same way that you learn to excel in your discipline.

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