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30 years later it goes public. He had been looking for an independent contact point for a long time, but could not find it. There he might have told his story much earlier and received psychological or legal help if necessary.
Center for Questions in Combating Violence in Sport
This is exactly what we are working on now, explains Johannes Herber, Managing Director of the Athletes Germany Association. “We have formed a core project team and also with the potential project partners, that is, a law firm, psychological counseling and an established helpline. And together with them we will now differentiate precisely these processes that are needed.”
This contact point should not be confused with a center for Safe Sport that has been promoting athletes in Germany for a year. The center should be an independent structure for all questions in the fight against violence and abuse in sport.
“Acute pressure to act”
By working on it, athletes in Germany had become so visible that more and more affected people had already reported to the club. “The contact point that we are now setting up is first of all our response to the acute pressure to act that we have identified”.
In the large structure of a center for Safe Sport supported by the new government, the contact point is something like the first practical component – completely independent of club or association structures. Those affected like the former soccer player Nadine have waited a long time for this.
“A clear sign that concrete action is now being taken”
Nadine is involved in the development process of the contact point from the start and is actively involved in it.
Many deeds are statute-barred
The whole thing is financed by two large foundations. According to Johannes Herber, the position should start in just a few months. Until then, there are still a few questions to be clarified. Among other things, how the anonymity of those affected is guaranteed. And whether and how those affected from popular sport could be cared for or adults who experienced violence in sport in their childhood:
“We won’t slam the door in front of anyone because they are not exactly an active squad athlete. If there should be a large number of cases from popular sport, then we have to find ways and means of how we might organize another transfer.”
Those affected like the former soccer player Nadine or the former tennis player Boris Kaminski would definitely get independent support that they would have needed much earlier. Boris Kaminski recently filed a complaint against his former coach – too late, as he found out, the deeds are statute-barred.
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