(TORONTO, ONT.) Wheelchair Basketball Canada (WBC) joins Abuse-Free Sport, the new independent program to prevent and address maltreatment in sport.
WBC and each of its National Team athletes and coaches, employees, identified national technical officials, identified contractors, and Board of Directors will have access to the services provided by the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC), which serves as the central hub of Abuse-Free Sport, as of January 31, 2023.
“Wheelchair Basketball Canada is committed to ensuring a healthy and positive environment for all of its members,” said Wheelchair Basketball Canada Executive Director Wendy Gittens. “We are pleased to support and sign on to Abuse-Free Sport as a step toward improving the culture of sport in Canada.”
Abuse-Free Sport is the new independent program aimed at preventing and addressing maltreatment in sport. When there are allegations of abuse, harassment or discrimination, the Office conducts independent investigations and recommends sanctions against individuals who violate the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS). The Office will also maintain a national sanctions registry, preventing individuals from evading sanctions by moving to different sports or jurisdictions.
The program also includes access to a wide range of resources, including victim services and referrals to specialized mental health professionals and experienced lawyers.
You can find more information about the Abuse-Free Sport program here, on the OSIC here, and on WBC’s website.
About Wheelchair Basketball Canada
Wheelchair Basketball Canada is the national sports governing body responsible for the organization of the sport in Canada. It is a non-profit, charitable organization committed to excellence in developing, supporting, and promoting wheelchair basketball programs and services from grassroots to high performance for all Canadians. Wheelchair basketball is a fast-paced, hard-hitting, competitive sport in which Canada is held in high esteem worldwide for winning a combined six gold, one silver, and one bronze medal in the last seven Paralympic Games. For more information, please visit wheelchairbasketball.ca.
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For more information, please contact:
Dhiren Mahiban
Communications & Digital Media Manager
Wheelchair Basketball Canada
416-574-6682
dmahiban@wheelchairbasketball.ca