Sebastian Coe has announced plans to hold urgent discussions with Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg to address the increasing abuse faced by female athletes on social media if he is elected president of the International Olympic Committee. His comments follow recent incidents where athletes such as Emma Raducanu and Eilish McColgan have faced harassment online.
Raducanu spoke about struggling to concentrate during a match due to distress caused by a stalker, while McColgan received an overwhelming amount of negativity after posting a video of her training. Coe emphasized the importance of making sports a safe space for women and expressed concern that the moment an athlete gains public attention, they become targets for abuse.
Describing the individuals behind these attacks as “pond life,” Coe highlighted the severity of the issue after conversations with numerous female athletes. He cited the experiences of American shot putter Raven Saunders as particularly distressing and called for immediate action.
Coe intends to push social media executives to take stronger measures in combating online abuse. He suggested that artificial intelligence could play a significant role in identifying and removing harmful content more effectively. He urged these platforms to take responsibility, recognizing that while the problem is not new, its scale continues to grow.
In addition to addressing online abuse, Coe also spoke about the concept of sportswashing, questioning whether it remains a relevant term in today’s world. He argued that all countries use sports to showcase their strengths and that some nations have more strategic and long-term plans for integrating sports into their development agendas. He pointed to Qatar’s efforts in sports since the 1990s as an example and stated that criticism of certain nations for sportswashing often comes from countries where sports investment has declined.
Coe expressed openness to the idea of Saudi Arabia bidding for the 2040 Olympics, emphasizing the importance of fairness when evaluating bids. He also acknowledged the likelihood that future Olympic Games may need to be moved away from the traditional summer months due to rising global temperatures. He suggested that hosting events in the autumn could become more common, making them more viable in regions with extreme summer heat.
Looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Coe pledged to collaborate closely with the U.S. administration, regardless of who is in office at the time. He dismissed concerns that a presidency under Donald Trump could overshadow the Games, believing that any U.S. president would want the event to be a major success. Coe pointed out that the Olympics have always been larger than any single political figure and that sport provides an opportunity for frank discussions that politicians often avoid.
Reflecting on the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, which were opened by then-President Ronald Reagan, Coe noted that there were political concerns at the time, but they did not diminish the significance of the event. He even speculated that Reagan’s political stance might be considered too moderate for today’s Republican Party.
As the IOC election approaches, Coe remains committed to addressing online abuse, ensuring fair evaluation of Olympic bids, and adapting to the changing global sports landscape. His vision includes stronger protections for athletes and closer cooperation with social media platforms to foster a safer environment for sports professionals worldwide.
