KUALA LUMPUR — A new study by World Athletics has shed light on the troubling prevalence of online abuse aimed at athletes during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Monitoring the social media accounts of 1,917 athletes, the study found that a staggering 48% of reported abuse was either racist or sexualised in nature, while general abuse accounted for an additional 32%.
Conducted in collaboration with Signify Group, the study analysed posts across four social media platforms throughout the Olympics, as well as during the 24 hours before and after the event.
This sample size was twelve times larger than that of the previous study conducted during the Tokyo Games in 2021.
Among the 809 verified abusive posts, racism was found to be the most significant issue for male athletes, comprising 26% of total abuse.
Female athletes faced a mix of sexual and sexist comments, with nearly half of the detected posts categorised as general abuse (49%).
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe highlighted the severe impact of such online harassment on athletes’ mental health and performance.
“It is no secret that social media abuse towards athletes can have a devastating impact,” he stated following their published findings released yesterday.
“Many athletes are committed to growing the sport of athletics through their online presence, but they need to do so in a safe environment.”
Coe praised athletes who leverage their platforms to raise awareness about the negative effects of online abuse and underscored the organisation’s commitment to fostering a positive change in the athletic community.
“This research will help us drive positive change and create a safer space for all athletes online,” he added.
As World Athletics moves forward with this research, the organisation aims to implement measures that protect athletes from harassment and support their mental well-being. — November 1, 2024