HRH Prince Feisal praises FIBA for proactive approach to safeguarding in basketball

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, 23 AUGUST 2023: Prince Feisal Al Hussein, Chair of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Working Group on Safeguarding, emphasised the importance of continuing to improve safeguarding in sport during a keynote speech at the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Congress in Manila.

IOC Executive Board Member and Jordan Olympic Committee President Prince Feisal is the Founding Chair of FIBA’s Safeguarding Council and praised the federation for its proactive approach, while also reiterating that there is more work to be done in this area. He focused on the need for safeguarding to be a top priority for all organisations across the world and the importance of implementing robust systems and processes at a local level.

Prince Feisal said: “The speed with which FIBA moved to finalise its Safeguarding Policy in the second half of 2022 showed the federation’s commitment. To have FIBA, the International Federation for one of the most popular sports in the Olympic Movement, take responsibility in this manner sets a fantastic example for other IFs and it sets a fantastic example for the National Federations.

“While FIBA is able to set guidelines and policy, to advise on how best to approach safeguarding, it has to be implemented at a local level. This is a key focus of the work that I am leading with the IOC’s Working Group on Safeguarding, in which FIBA is represented. We are working to establish independent systems and structures to support and assist with the strengthening of safeguarding in sport at the local level.

“Change is coming and we need National Federations to drive this forward to ensure safeguarding is considered by every club. That is every National Federation around the world because this is a global issue. During my involvement with safeguarding, I have seen incidents in all corners of the world. Nobody should believe that their country is free from issues in this area. The responsibility falls on all of us.”

On the second day of the 22nd FIBA Congress, Prince Feisal will attend the safeguarding and integrity breakout session before attending the opening games of the tournament at the Philippine Arena on 25 August, when Angola take on Italy and the Philippines face the Dominican Republic.

As well as leading the IOC’s Working Group on Safeguarding, Prince Feisal is Vice Chair of the IOC’s Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commission and Chair of the IOC Prevention of Harassment and Abuse in Sport Working Group.