World Athletics has taken a groundbreaking step to protect its athletes from online abuse, offering year-round social media protection powered by artificial intelligence to 25 high-profile athletes identified as frequent targets during major sporting events.
This initiative follows a four-year study conducted by the governing body, which analyzed over 1.4 million posts and comments from two Olympic Games and two World Championships. The research focused on comments directly tagging athletes and abusive content but excluded private messages and non-targeted abuse.
The findings revealed alarming levels of harassment. For instance, during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, 63% of abuse targeted just two female athletes, with 29% of the abuse being sexist and 26% racist. At the Oregon 2022 World Championships, 59% of abuse was aimed at female athletes, with sexual and sexist abuse accounting for 36%, while 19% was racist. Alarmingly, the Budapest 2023 World Championships saw a twelvefold increase in racist abuse compared to the previous year.
World Athletics President Lord Coe emphasized the importance of athlete welfare, stating, “We have invested significant resources into research on online abuse, and one of our key successes is providing athletes with tools to protect themselves. Athlete welfare is at the top of our priority list, and we will continue to implement measures ensuring athletes can safely engage on social media.”
The study also highlighted disturbing trends, such as the increasing use of emojis as a tool for abuse, which often bypasses platform guidelines. Additionally, it noted that fewer athletes are posting during competitions to avoid abuse, with many relying on comment management to mitigate risks.
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Key actions have already been taken by World Athletics to combat the problem. A total of 254 accounts verified to have sent abusive or threatening messages have been escalated to social media platforms, with two serious cases referred to authorities.
The organization has also developed educational resources to empower athletes with strategies for safeguarding their online presence. Further materials and expanded protective measures are planned for next year, with ongoing consultations to ensure these services effectively address athletes’ needs.
The 2023 World Championships in Budapest highlighted a shift in abuse patterns, with incidents driven by events outside the stadium and athletes’ broader reputations. Three of the five most abused athletes during this event also ranked among the top targets during the Paris 2024 Olympics.
World Athletics’ proactive approach aims to not only shield athletes from harm but also foster a safer digital environment, ensuring they can confidently celebrate their achievements without fear of harassment. This bold initiative sets a new standard for combating online abuse in sports.
