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Kiwi BMX star Sarah Walker collating global sporting communities' stories and struggles

August 24, 2018

The Olympian plans to raise awareness of humans right violations among athletes with a series of stories at the Olympism in Action Forum in October. (Source: Other)

Kiwi Olympic BMX star Sarah Walker is trying to convince 10,000 athletes worldwide to tell her their stories and struggles.

"I've heard a number of stories that athletes were facing all around the world, and basically wanted to represent them to the best of my ability." 

Walker wants to hear "everything they are facing."

Walker plans to present the information gathered at the Olympism in Action Forum, set to take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 5 and 6.

The issues range from athletes who have faced sexual harassment and abuse, to athletes who are not allowed to study and need a second job to support themselves.

"Giving them support outside of their structures to make them feel like they have the right to x,y or z," she says.

Walker says context matters and what a Kiwi athlete faces will obviously be different to a Pakistani athlete.

"The hard part about this is that it's global...that's a big challenge for us to really bring something together that represents all those different situations."

Many of these stories were reported to those in higher positions but were simple ignored, she says.

"Alot of this is basically protecting their human rights ... basically we're putting this information together and taking it to the International Olympic Committee."

The information will be presented to the Olypism in Action Forum.

"The goal for us is to put this in the Olympic charter as a reference document ... you'll have 206 countries around the world [follow this]."

This will make sure all countries are held accountable for their actions and have athletes protected, she says.

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