#134 In conversation with Kirsty Burrows - Making safeguarding and mental health part of the DNA of sports

We’re thrilled to welcome Kirsty Burrows, Head of the Safe Sport Unit at the International Olympics Committee, to today’s episode. Kirsty’s impressive credentials include serving as the IOC Lead Safeguarding Officer at Games-time, Academic Director of the IOC Certificate: Safeguarding Officer in Sport, member of the Council of Europe’s Pool of Experts in Safe Sport, and author of the IOC Safeguarding Toolkit (2017).

In this insightful conversation with Lorraine Moalosi, Kirsty discusses the importance of embedding safeguarding into an organization’s DNA rather than viewing it as an abstract concept. She also addresses the challenges faced by international organizations in enforcing safeguarding measures globally and offers practical advice for sports organizations aiming to integrate safeguarding into their culture and operations.

This special episode highlights the essential role of safeguarding in sports and reminds us of the people behind the extraordinary achievements at the Olympics.