Athletes’ Welfare A Top Priority In Paris

[Written by Stephen Wright]

Ensuring the mental health and welfare of the island’s athletes at the Olympic Games in Paris has been a top priority of the Bermuda Olympic Association.

With the International Olympic Association [IOC] offering a quota of welfare officers to all National Olympic Committees [NOC] for registered mental health practitioners and certified safeguarding practitioners, Bermuda enlisted the help of Australian Ellen Hawes.

Having completed the IOC’s nine-month online course and worked with Bermuda’s athletes as a physio at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia, in 2018, Hawes was a perfect fit.

As part of her role as a welfare officer, she has been a contact point for any athlete experiencing welfare issues, abuse, or harassment throughout the Games.

“Safeguarding athletes [at major competitions] is a relatively new concept,” Hawes told Bernews.

“I’d kept in contact with Katura [Horton-Perinchief, the Bermuda chef de mission] from the Commonwealth Games, and when she asked if I was available for Paris for this specific role, I was more than happy to accept.

“I didn’t want to take a Bermuda physio spot – that’s not what I’m about – but having completed the IOC welfare officer course, I was ready for the role.

“Katura has placed athlete welfare at the top of her priorities from day one. She has chosen her support staff carefully to ensure safeguarding would never be an issue in Paris.”

Hawes, who worked with the Australian men’s hockey team for several years, including the 2012 London Games and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, said she has enjoyed assisting the island’s lead physio, Patience Lowe, ensuring the athletes remain in peak condition.

“Patience has made an excellent roomie and been a breath of fresh air,” said Hawes, who works as a physio in Perth, Western Australia.

“We’ve switched our physio duties, so I could go to Poissy [in the western suburbs of Paris] to help the triathlon team, and Patience could stay in the Olympic Village and help the other athletes.

“Plus, we had sailor Adriana [Penruddocke] in Marseille [in southern France].”

She added: “The team has been very receptive to me helping out in a physio capacity and as a welfare officer.

“Everyone has been so welcoming from the word go, and it’s been a pleasure to work with them and watch them perform.”

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Category: All, Sports