Kreissportbund Märkischer Kreis e.V.
Kirsten Nölle
Take a closer look!
KSB becomes a member of the Quality Alliance for Protection against Violence in Sport
Photo: LSB NRW | Andrea Bowinkelmann
It has been official since January 10, 2025: The Kreissportbund Märkischer Kreis e.V. (KSB) has been accepted into the “Quality Alliance for Protection against Sexual and Interpersonal Violence in Sport.” This milestone is both a success and a driving force: the KSB is sending a clear and unambiguous signal against all forms of violence in sport and also wants to continuously accompany and support sports clubs in the district in the accession process in order to create a safe and respectful environment for all athletes.
We have looked away for long enough. Violence is a phenomenon that affects society as a whole and does not stop at organized sports. Anyone who clings to the illusory idea of an ideal (sports) world is not listening to those affected, is closing their eyes to the dangers, and, when in doubt, is only protecting the wrong people.
There are certainly factors that “favor” violence in sports: body-centered activities, the necessity of physical contact (e.g., assistance), specific sportswear, the “changing situation,” rituals such as hugs and award ceremonies, and, last but not least, the power relationship between athletes and coaches. For this reason, a comprehensive understanding of these risks is essential in order to implement prevention structures and create opportunities for intervention. And this is exactly where the Quality Alliance comes in. It is based on ten criteria ranging from formal requirements, such as the appointment of at least one contact person within the organization, to content-related requirements (conducting a risk analysis and drawing up a protection concept) and quality assurance criteria.
If you have any questions about interpersonal violence in sports, please contact the Kreissportbund Märkischer Kreis e.V.:
Photo: Michael May
Solveig Schwiederski
solveig.schwiederski@ksb-mk.de
Tel.: +49 2374 7568 131
Photo: Michael May
Cedric Kleymann
cedric.kleymann@ksb-mk.de
Tel.: +49 2374 7568 132
Further information is available here:
With Solveig Schwiederski and Cedric Kleymann, KSB has two trained contact persons who have not only raised awareness within their own organization, but also brought the issue to the attention of sports clubs in the Märkischer Kreis district. The assistance is wide-ranging and extends from support in crisis and suspected cases, to the organization of various information and training formats, to process support on the individual path to the quality alliance. Most recently, for example, there were four themed networking evenings in Hemer, Werdohl, Iserlohn, and Lüdenscheid, where Solveig Schwiederski and Cedric Kleymann answered questions from interested sports clubs.
The more sports clubs become members, the stronger the alliance against violence in sport becomes. All people are fundamentally worthy of protection. By placing a special focus on the protection of children and young people, every club has the opportunity to present this priority as a special quality feature of its sports programs. And with the help of appropriate public relations work, a culture of mindfulness is created.
True to the motto “the journey is the destination,” it is initially irrelevant where a sports club currently stands. The most important thing is to remove the taboo surrounding violence in sports. This includes recognizing that silence definitely protects the wrong people!
