COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a continuation of its efforts to provide Team USA athletes and all members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic community with a safer, more supportive environment where they can thrive and achieve their athletic dreams, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Community announced today its new Integrity Platform – a place where anyone can take advantage of an easy, confidential and safe way to report compliance concerns involving the USOPC or any National Governing Body.
The Integrity Platform is aimed at providing a best-in-class compliance and safety resource for athletes and other members of the community, which complements existing resources at the USOPC, NGBs and the U.S. Center for SafeSport. This tool and the operational resources behind it take the USOPC to a new level of proactive involvement in identifying and addressing compliance issues in the Olympic and Paralympic community.
In announcing the Integrity Platform, the USOPC paid tribute to The Foundation for Global Sports Development, acknowledging GSD's ongoing advocacy and support for athlete safety. The Integrity Platform is consistent with GSD's legacy of supporting athletes and promoting sport, and GSD's mission and efforts to build awareness around preventing abuse in sport.
"We must be a leader in the space of athlete safety. This important program gets us even closer to the goal of providing athletes with an environment where they feel safe, supported and free to voice any issue they may be facing," said Holly Shick, USOPC chief ethics and compliance officer. "As we launch the Integrity Platform, the USOPC wishes to recognize The Foundation for Global Sports Development. Consistent with its own mission, GSD has been an important supporter of the USOPC, an advocate for athlete safety, and a positive member of the Olympic and Paralympic community."
The program will work alongside the USOPC's Speak Up Policy to build on existing resources and will include:
- New technology with easy accessibility and reporting for all members of the Olympic and Paralympic community.
- New USOPC case management resources to track and monitor case progress through completion, as well as discern any patterns that need to be addressed.
- Full communication, education and promotional plan to raise awareness and encourage adoption rates.
- Dedicated staff support.
For more information on the USOPC’s Integrity Platform, Speak Up Policy and other resources, please visit TeamUSA.org/Reporting.
About GSD
The Foundation for Global Sports Development (GSD), and its principals, Dr. Steven Ungerleider and David Ulich, are longtime supporters and advocates for athlete safety who have provided decades of service to the Olympic Movement both in the United States and internationally. GSD’s efforts include providing education on issues concerning the safety and welfare of youth sports throughout the world, including GSD’s ongoing Courage First initiative. GSD has also funded and partnered with the USOPC on many successful projects, including the USOPC’s Athlete Career and Education Program, IOC International Athletes’ Forum, IOC World Conference on Women and Sport, International Forum on Sport for Peace and Development, Association of National Olympic Committees General Assembly, and the Association of National Olympic Committee Tech Project. Through these programs, GSD and the USOPC have delivered programming that achieves competitive excellence while demonstrating the values of the Olympic Movement.
About the USOPC
Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee serves as both the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States. The USOPC is focused on protecting, supporting and empowering America's athletes, and is responsible for fielding U.S. teams for the Olympic, Paralympic, Youth Olympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games, and serving as the steward of the Olympic and Paralympic movements in the U.S.
