“There are more cases of violence against children in swimming, gymnastics or ice sports.” “Balance Ton Sport” platform for athletes who are victims of violence.

They come from opposition political families. Beatrice Bellamy works for the Horizon Group, which is headed by former Prime Minister Edward Philip. Sabrina Sebayhi is a Member of Parliament under the Greens banner of European Ecology. Seated far apart in the National Assembly, however, the two women together on June 20 launched a commission of inquiry into the failings of sports federations in the year since the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. Faced with the many testimonies received, the president and the reporter set out to create the online platform “Balance Ton Sport” a few months later, on September 20. His mission? Collect the words of victims of sexual, physical, moral assault or even racism and discrimination. And finally “break the omerta”. Cross-examination.

Madame Figaro .- How does the “Balance ton sport” platform differ from Signal cell?–sport created by the Ministry of Sports and the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Sabrina Sebayhi: First of all, you should know that most athletes are not aware of the existence of this cell, which is still crazy. “Balance ton sport” is not meant to tell victims to file a complaint, it is a place where the testimonies of victims of harassment, racism, sexist, sexual and moral attacks are heard to complement the report of our commission of inquiry. And it promotes Signal-sports communication. Everything is connected. As soon as you open the “Balance Ton Sport” website, you are directed to the Ministry section.
Beatrice Bellamy: The idea is not to replace Signal-Sport, but to increase the number of channels for victims to speak out.

Why did you choose the term “Balance ton sport” which has a strong connotation in the post age? Me too ?
SS- We wanted a name that spoke to everyone immediately. Being called “Me Too Sport” seemed too focused on gender-based and sexual violence (SGBV), when “Balance ton sport” broadens the spectrum a bit further.

Relationships with the body

Child delinquency is a serious problem in the sports world. According to a European study published in 2021 1 out of 7 minors would be a victim. How to explain this figure?
BB- Athletes are recruited very young, trusted by federations and almost torn away from their families. There is a relationship between coach and coachee that can quickly become unhealthy in the sense that coaches take the place of parents, emphasizing the effect of psychological control. We’ve had testimonials from athletes telling us that when they were teenagers, they sometimes shared their coach’s bed. This is not acceptable.
SS- Just as the relationship with the body is very special… Head and body are disconnected in the sports environment. The body exists for its performance. We do not think about the child’s psychological needs. Performance trumps well-being, and this is acknowledged and taught; the body becomes a tool for winning medals, it no longer belongs to the one who owns it, but to the one who enjoys it, the federations. However, a high-functioning child or adolescent must also develop as a person.
BB- To give back, some trainers have trained younger just like this, and they reproduce. All this is systemic. It is the coaches who need to be reeducated.

A psychological influence will soon be created between the child and his trainer, between the trainer and the trained, between the dominant and the dominated…

Sabrina Sebayhi

Are there sports areas where more sexual harassment occurs? Sports where the body is more emphasized.
SS- In fact, many federations face the same problems. But it is true that there are more cases of child abuse in sports such as swimming, gymnastics and ice sports. It has a lot to do with outfits. The body is valued to make it more attractive to the public.
BB- And holy. Although, when it comes to sexual violence, it mostly concerns young people entrusted to their federation very early. The latter enter the bubble, they are no longer their own. Their daily life is regulated by a third party. Their lives depend on their federation.

Omnipotent federations

Does this explain it?‘omerta?
SS- Along with the incidents of assaults committed by the church, we note that sexual predators are not punished or even bothered in the sports environment. As soon as the victim is removed from the side, they will be released and thanked. There is a closed-door phenomenon where everyone knows each other. Federations have a sense of omnipotence.
BB- What if women testified, like Sarah Abitbol? (The French figure skater was assaulted by her former coach Gilles Beyer between the ages of 15 and 17, editor’s note) there were almost no convictions. This discouraged victims, feeling trapped.

The body is a tool for winning medals, it no longer belongs to the one who owns it, but to the one who enjoys it, the federations.

Sabrina Sebayhi

Why do the federations act like that?
BB- Because we have to protect the image of the club. French sports have something sacred that cannot be shaken. The sense of impunity there is extremely important. Predators are protected by family – sport. Everyone is complicit.

“This is not a sport that we want to throw away,” said Sports Minister Amelie Udea-Castera of your initiative, describing it;‘“off the mark”. What do you answer him?
SS- Instead of criticizing parliamentary work in small sentences, Madam Minister should be concerned about the lack of awareness of the official Signal-sport platform by hundreds of athletes, managers and coaches. Let me say again that we are not in competition with the ministry and its only concern, like ours, should be for the victims.