HRH Prince Feisal appointed Chair of IOC Working Group on safeguarding in sport

International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board (EB) Member and Jordan Olympic Committee President HRH Prince Feisal al Hussein has been appointed as the Chair of a new IOC Working Group focused on coordinating safeguarding in the Olympic Movement in recognition of his leadership in the field.

IOC President Thomas Bach announced the formation of the Working Group, which will consider the best approach to establishing independent safeguarding systems and structures at the national level, ensuring that resources are directed to where they are most needed to support athletes and build safeguarding capacity in sports organisations.

Prince Feisal was appointed to head the group following the significant progress made under his guidance in this area over many years. In his capacity as Chair of the IOC Prevention of Harassment and Abuse in Sport Working Group, Prince Feisal oversaw the IOC’s assessment in October 2022 with all International Federations (IFs) on the Summer and Winter Olympic Programmes to determine the current status of safeguarding and to establish the key challenges faced.

Prince Feisal said: “I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to lead the IOC’s new Working Group on safeguarding by President Bach and the IOC Executive Board. I look forward to working alongside representatives from both IFs and National Olympic Committees (NOCs) as we focus on implementing consistent safeguarding measures across all sports, at all levels.

“The is a critically important programme that I am very passionate about and to see all the IFs respond to the IOC’s assessment last October shows how seriously Olympic stakeholders are taking it. This is validation for the work that has already been done in the fight for safe sport, but we are committed to doing more and this Working Group will play a key role in helping safeguard increasing numbers of vulnerable athletes around the world.

"We all have a responsibility to ensure that everyone has access to safe, inclusive and accessible sporting environments."

President Bach announced that the IOC will dedicate USD 10million per Olympiad to strengthen safe sport at a conference in Lausanne with all 36 IFs in attendance, as well as the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations and the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations. Prince Feisal and IOC Medical and Scientific Commission Chair Prof. Dr. Uğur Erdener also addressed the attendees, and it was confirmed that the new Working Group will be composed of representatives from across the Olympic Movement.