Athlete Bill of Rights

03-04-09 Boston, Mass.-Sport in Society is pleased to announce the creation and release of the Athlete Bill of Rights.  This instrument is an essential building block for all sports organizations and for athletes, themselves, to define their human rights. Download the full Athlete Bill of Rights. (PDF).

The Athlete Bill of Rights is the foundation for the implementation of our ground breaking Human Rights in Sport Checklist, which further clarifies the rights of all athletes.  The Athlete Bill of Rights offers a stepping stone toward greater freedom and safety for athletes in all sports. Sport in Society has long been involved in the human rights struggle for athletes and is proud to be on the forefront of announcing such a topical instrument.

“The pursuit of sports does not make one immune to the scourge of inequality, injustice, environmental degradation, violence, and oppression,” Peter Kaufman, a Sport in Society research advisor.   “The Athlete Bill of Rights will send a powerful message that athletes, like all citizens of the world, deserve basic rights, freedoms, and opportunities.”

One of the main aims of the Athlete Bill of Rights is to empower athletes to advocate for their own rights. "Empowerment and activism grows from open debate and discussion.  The Athlete Bill of Rights can inspire the dialogue that will lead to further implementation of human rights by organizations and activism by athletes," says Amber Morris, Sport in Society human rights advisor and co-author of the Athlete Bill of Rights. 

This discussion revolves around these eight rights:

  • Every athlete has the right to play whatever and whichever sport he/she chooses regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation or religion
  • Every athlete has the right to play in a safe environment free of structural defaults, defects, and environmental hazards including safe air quality and clean playing surface
  • Every athlete has the right to play free from any physical, emotional, or verbal abuse or violence from the opposition, teammates, coaching staff, spectators, grounds staff, or officials
  • Every athlete has the right to create a contract and a working relationship with whomever they chose
  • Every athlete is afforded the right to appeal any complaints made against him/her through an independent hearing as well as be provided with an effective procedure for complaints
  • Every athlete has the right to view the terms of his/her contract at any time and to have it examined by a lawyer
  • Every athlete has an equal right to any financial resources available and equal access to training grounds and equipment available
  • Every athlete is entitled to a healthy lifestyle that includes proper nutrition, injury prevention and care, and education about the harmful effects of drugs

The Athlete Bill of Rights is intended to incorporate the work done by other human rights and humanitarian groups to help reduce poor treatment of athletes.  Sport in Society identified a void in leadership in the human rights field in sport and the need for an easily accessible instrument to cultivate discussion and activism around the rights of athletes. 

“It is exciting to be part of the efforts by Sport in Society to develop an Athlete Bill of Rights through a genuinely collaborative process,” said Ann Peel, founder of Athlete CAN.  “Having this dialogue alone will educate athletes and others involved in sport about the rights they should be able to enjoy in their drive to succeed.  I encourage anyone in sport to read the Athlete Bill of Rights, participate in the process, and most importantly, ensure that your sport practices honor these basic rights."

To continue the discussion and collaboration on this project, visit Sport in Society’s website www.sportinsociety.org or check Facebook for Sport in Society’s and the Athlete Bill of Rights pages. Sport in Society offers consultative technical assistance to organizations interested in implementing the Athlete Bill of Rights that includes evaluation and education. For further information, please contact: Eli A. Wolff, Manager of Research, 617-373-8936, e.wolff@neu.edu.