It will then be Wylleman’s responsibility to coordinate and collaborate with the Safeguarding Officer and the performance sport psychologists who will also act as first points of contact for delegation members on aspects of safeguarding and mental health.
On each case, decisions will be taken on whether more information is needed and whether consultation with experts is required which can include the IOC Safeguarding Officers in the Olympic Village. Based upon the recommendations formulated byWylleman, the Chef de Mission will prioritize each case and follow up measures will be implemented on a case by case basis.
At the recent webinar on the role of the NOC Welfare Officer at Paris 2024 co-hosted by Team Belgium and ANOC, Wylleman emphasizes that the 50 NOCs in attendance demonstrated “a great willingness to implement the approaches of welfare and safeguarding but also a clear need for more information.”
While there remain questions about these initiatives, whether the remit should be expanded to include all members of the Olympic team, and how to ensure a holistic perspective to the health of delegation members is required, Wylleman is confident Paris 2024 will provide invaluable experience.
“It is clear that the 2024 Paris Olympic Games will certainly provide experiences which will allow the IOC and the NOCs to optimize the requirements, the responsibilities and the functioning of the NOC Welfare Officer and the Safeguarding Officer,” he concludes.