Safety beyond the arena: IOC outlines digital safeguards for athletes

The International Olympic Committee has released a detailed safety brief highlighting the need for enhanced online protection as the world prepares for Paris 2024 and Milan‑Cortina 2026. The report stresses that abusive content can translate into long‑term physical, psychological and economic consequences for competitors.

CAPS monitoring identified 20,000 Olympic‑related accounts for the Summer Games and more than 6,000 for the Winter edition, covering a total of 101 language variations. AI tools initially flagged 242,000 posts and comments, of which 24,700 were verified as abusive after manual assessment.

Key recommendations include the deployment of real‑time detection systems, mandatory digital‑literacy training for athletes and staff, and clear protocols for reporting and responding to online threats. The IOC calls on social‑media platforms to cooperate in removing harmful content and to support legal avenues where appropriate.