The Gymnastics Ethics Foundation (GEF) has published its 2021 Annual Report, which summarises the key activities of its third year of operation. The document provides an overview of important developments in 2021; the nature and growing number of cases dealt with; and looks at the impact of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
From the Foundation’s perspective, the most important legacy of Tokyo 2020 is that these Games helped shift, for the first time, the public focus from the notion of “winning at all costs” to the importance of protecting the athletes.
In addition, the report outlines engagement activities with other expert organisations in the field of safeguarding; communication activities; the most important internal processes; as well as the plans for the future. The Foundation’s audited financial accounts are also included in the document.
In her message at the beginning of the report, GEF President Micheline Calmy-Rey said:
“While the number of reports received and cases opened grew once again over the previous year, this year was not only about responding to and investigating reports – the core of our activity – but also about making inroads and developing collaborative relationships with other organisations concerned with athlete safeguarding.”
She concluded:
“Our dedication to help those affected by mistreatment is stronger than ever, and we are grateful to all who place their trust in us and the Foundation’s work.”
Read the full report here.
Click here to read the notes to the financial report.
The GEF is an independent body which was established by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) in December 2018 in order to ensure that violations of FIG rules, policies, and procedures, including ethical breaches, are handled in an unbiased way. One of the Foundation’s main missions is to strengthen the safeguarding of athletes and other participants in gymnastics from harassment and abuse.