The city of Lausanne will host more than 250 representatives from the Olympic Movement, the United Nations and other international organizations, as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) holds the first edition of the Olympism365 Summit. The event, taking place from June 3 to 5 at the IOC headquarters, aims to promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through sport and will feature sessions focused on key themes such as inclusion, mental health, and safe sport.
Under the theme “Sport for a Better World,” the protection of athletes will be a priority topic. The summit will include discussions aimed at eradicating violence in sports and promoting safe environments from grassroots to elite levels. According to Kirsty Burrows, Associate Director of the IOC for Health, Medicine and Science, sport can only become a powerful tool for change if it first ensures environments free of harassment, abuse, and risks to the mental health of its participants.
Global initiatives and new tools for athlete protection
For several years, the IOC has led the development of policies for safe sport, encouraging international federations and national Olympic committees to implement safeguarding measures. The creation of the Safe Sport Unit and a Mental Health Action Plan have been decisive steps in this strategy. In addition, the Working Group chaired by Prince Feisal Al Hussein has developed key tools to support athletes, such as the cyberbullying protection service based on artificial intelligence used during the Olympic Games in Paris.
The Olympism365 Summit will serve as a platform to present and refine new solutions. Resources such as an International Framework for Safe Sport, a Mental Health Awareness Course, and training programs for local representatives will be introduced. These tools aim to strengthen early detection of risks, improve intervention pathways, and harmonize safeguarding standards at the global level. The IOC thus reaffirms its commitment to working with all stakeholders in the Olympic ecosystem to ensure that athletes can thrive in a safe, respectful, and healthy environment.
