More than 70 Hong Kong athletes call for better protection against sexual abuse, especially for young sportspeople
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More than 70 Hong Kong athletes, including cyclist Sarah Lee Wai-sze and swimmer Stephanie Au Hoi-shun, issued a joint statement calling on the government and sporting authorities to take concrete steps to protect athletes from sexual abuse.
Their call came after 23-year-old Hong Kong hurdling champion Vera Lui Lai-yiu’s shocking revelation last week that she was sexually assaulted by a coach 10 years ago. Police are investigating the matter and the coach has been suspended by two of his employers.
Hong Kong hurdler Vera Lui’s claim that a coach sexually assaulted her when she was 13 sparks outcry, police probe
From Sunday night, the athletes posted the joint statement on their individual Facebook pages expressing regret and sadness over the incidence of sexual abuse in Hong Kong’s sporting world.
They urged the government and sporting fraternity to ensure the safety of athletes, especially younger ones, and prevent similar incidents from happening again.
The actions they asked for included: investigating cases of sexual assault thoroughly; giving coaches and staff clear guidelines on their interactions with athletes, such as avoiding unnecessary physical contact and athletes being alone with coaches; encouraging athletes, especially juveniles, to actively seek help in the event of sexual assault; and providing counselling help for those suspected of being victims of sexual abuse.
“From an athlete’s point of view, coaches and staff grow up with us, and are people we absolutely trust and respect,” the statement said.