SLGU signs ‘Safe Sports’ MoU with NOCSL

SLGU President Michael Magala hands over the MoU to Safe Sports NOCSL Women’s Committee Chairperson Niloo Jayatilake. Fazil Hussain, Suresh Subramaniam and Shirantha Peiris are the other NOCSL officials present  

By Susil Premalal

Sri Lanka Golf Union (SLGU) became the first national sports association to adopt the ‘Safe Sport’ policy formulated by the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka’s (NOCSL) women’s arm to create awareness on ‘Make Sports a Safe Zone’ in Sri Lanka.  

Associated with the signing of the MoU were SLGU President Michael Magala, NOCSL President Suresh Subramaniam, Chairperson of NOCSL women’s committee Niloo Jayatilake, Chairman NOCSL Junior Development Committee Shirantha Peiris and NOCSL women’s committee member Fazil Hussain.  
“Basically this comes with gender equality as well as there is a safe environment for all sportsmen and women in the country. This is equally important to all stake holders, not only players, but for the coach or any other official related to the sport and related to the structure of the organisation. Going forward, we would have a safe environment for everyone,” said Magala.  

Subramaniam said it was very important being a part of the safe sport programme that comes under the auspices of the NOCSL’s Prevention of Sexual Harassment programme. He said that Safe Sport is very important to make sure that sports people of all ages are safe.  

Hussain said: “Considering the present IOC protocols it is great to note that the Golf Union has signed up to adhere to the safe sport practices and gender equality in sports as mentioned. In the future unless these protocols are met by associations and federations there would be limitations to participation. So this a great move as far as the NOC is concerned and the Golf Union is the first association to join us. We hope to continue to bring on board all the other Olympic sports associations under this new protocol.”