Coe seeks urgent discussions with Musk and Zuckerberg

Sebastian Coe is pushing for direct engagement with tech leaders to address online abuse against female athletes.

Coe demands talks with Musk and Zuckerberg on abuse of female athletes

Sebastian Coe plans to demand urgent talks with Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg to tackle online abuse of female athletes if he becomes president of the International Olympic Committee. This follows incidents where athletes like Emma Raducanu expressed distress over receiving hateful messages and harassment. Coe emphasized the importance of creating a safe environment for women in sports, stating, "It is vital that women feel that sport is a safe space." He criticized the comments made on social media platforms, referring to them as ‘pond life’ and shared the emotional toll it takes on athletes. Coe expressed his commitment to form a taskforce and suggested that artificial intelligence could aid in reducing online abuses. Additionally, he voiced a nuanced view of sportswashing, suggesting that every nation uses sport for promotional purposes, and he sees potential in allowing countries like Saudi Arabia to bid for future Olympic events.

Coe's statements point to a growing concern around the safety of female athletes in the digital age. His call for dialogue with social media leaders represents a shift towards accountability for tech companies that harbor abusive behavior online. By linking these abuses to the larger political and economic landscape of sports, Coe is not only advocating for athletes but also challenging perceptions of corporate responsibility in sports. Acknowledging that countries like Saudi Arabia should be considered for future Olympic bids, he opens a debate about moral implications versus economic benefits in international sports.

Highlights

Coe's actions could set a precedent in addressing online athlete safety.