This is after they claimed that Gymnastics Canada (GymCan) failed to address these issues and failed to gain the trust and confidence of the athletes. “Theirs [GymCan’s] “The inability to adequately respond to the continuing systemic abuse, mistreatment and discrimination is worrying,” said the letter, issued by the fledgling Global Athlete team. He added: “For almost a decade, the fear of retaliation prevented us and many other athletes from talking. “However, we can no longer sit in silence. We present our experiences of abuse, neglect and discrimination in the hope of forcing change. “We urge Sport Canada to take steps to ensure that the next generation of Canadian athletes will not suffer the physical and psychological trauma we suffered.” In a statement on its website on Tuesday, GymCan said it was aware of the letter’s circulation and agreed that an external and independent monitoring body should be set up. “While we are saddened to learn that dozens of athletes believe we have failed to address these issues, we are committed to continuing to train and support system-wide reforms that will help ensure that all participants feel respected, involved and safe when they train and compete. in sports “, the announcement states. “We agree that there needs to be much more support for tackling unsafe practices in sport. […] We also agree that more work is needed to create more humanitarian approaches where participants can thrive. “ He added: “Gymnastics Canada, as the governing body for the sport in Canada, has addressed any complaints or concerns raised with the national body.” According to the letter, there have been complaints about Canadian coaches over the past five years, many of whom have led minors to training camps, matches and national team assignments. However, the athletes claim that GymCan has only paid for the problems that arose. The athletes say they have “got nowhere” with requests for internal research within the event. The signatories – who are not named and say they include Olympians and members of the national team – called for an independent inquiry by third parties from Sport Canada to “ensure the safety of the athletes” in the future. “Many athletes who have experienced abuse suffer from significant ongoing psychological and physical consequences, such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders and chronic pain,” the letter said. “We continue to suffer losses as we participate in programs run by GymCan, the very body that has been entrusted with our development and protection.” In a statement sent to CNN, Canadian Sports Minister Pascal St. Ong said that “there is no room for harassment, abuse, discrimination or ill-treatment in sports.” The statement added: “We have raised the standards and expectations of federally funded organizations. We seek to strengthen the way we monitor organizations’ responsibilities to keep their athletes safe, and we will hold those responsible accountable if they do not meet the requirements.” . “Today’s open letter is a reminder that we must take action to bring about a cultural change in sport at all levels. All athletes have the right to practice their sport in a healthy, safe, ethical and respectful environment.” The letter comes four years after disgraced former U.S. gymnast Larry Nassar was sentenced to up to 175 years in a Michigan state jail after pleading guilty to seven counts of criminal sexual misconduct. At the sentencing, 156 victims, including gold medalists Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney, told stories about how they went to Nassar for treatment for sports injuries, only to be sexually assaulted, and said it was a form of treatment. Two months ago, Nasser was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison on charges of child pornography. Canadian gymnasts are also not the only athletes in the country to report abuse. Three years ago, motorcyclist Cali Humphries changed her mind in the United States, saying she was “targeted, harassed and intimidated” by coach Todd Hayes – claims Hayes denies. More than 60 other bobsleigh and skeleton athletes signed an open letter on March 7 calling for the resignation of senior members of the Canadian Governing Body (BCS), citing a “toxic” environment. In response to the open letter, BCS issued a statement saying it would address any issues.
“We take the concerns of our athletes seriously,” the statement said. “As we do at the end of each four-year Olympics, we plan to meet with our athletic community immediately as soon as possible to address and address their concerns.”