White Paper 4.1 Children’s Rights in the Sports Context

This White Paper examines the manifold risks of mega-sporting events (MSEs) to children. It reviews the impact that MSEs can have on the development and the rights of children in the country or city where an MSE is taking place, the impact on children affected as athletes, through the supply of goods and services for the event, or through the marketing and advertising of products during the event and its broadcast.

It highlights some encouraging practice which has emerged in relation to MSEs and children, whilst recognising that the process of considering child specific measures and policies in the frame of MSEs is still in its infancy.
 

This White Paper is one of 11 papers published in January 2017 as part of the Sporting Chance White Paper series. The series aims to present the latest thinking, practice, and debate in relation to key human rights issues involved in the planning, construction, delivery, and legacy of mega-sporting events (MSEs). Each paper also considers the case for, and potential role of, an independent centre of expertise on MSEs and human rights. Each White Paper has been published as “Version 1” and the MSE Platform would welcome comments, input, and expressions of support with regard to future iterations or research on this and other topics.