By: Kyle James | 02-12-2018 | News
Photo credit: Erik Ortiz | NBC

Winter Olympics In South Korea Opens Sexual Assault Centers

In response to the issue of sexual assault, the Winter Olympics in South Korea has opened Gender Equality Support Centers to help sexual assault victims.

The Olympics is considered the pinnacle sporting event meant to showcase the best athletes in the world but recently the industry has been exposed for being wrought with sexual abuse.

In recent weeks, hundreds of sexual abuse victims of the largest serial pedophile in modern U.S. history came forward to speak against the <a href="http://www.thegoldwater.com/news/18127-Nassar-Transferred-to-AZ-Prison-Where-Elizabeth-Smart-Kidnapper-Mafia-Hitman-Are-Locked-Up">former USA Olympic gymnast doctor Larry Nassar.</a> Nassar got away with sexually abusing young gymnasts for decades.

The case has caused many questions to be asked such as how was Nassar able to thrive in such close proximity with Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics.

Jeon Won Hee, a counselor with Gender Equality Support Center, is helping to fight sexual abuse at the Olympic Park where over 2,900 athletes, 16,000 volunteers, and tens of thousands of spectators are gathered.

"This is very meaningful, but the more important thing is knowing that sexual violence can occur anywhere at any time," Jeon said.

Nancy Hogshead-Makar, a three-time Olympic gold medalist at the 1984 Olympic Games, said the athletic institutions still pose a great risk for young athletes and have a long way to go in ensuring they are safe.

The Olympic games have long been infested with sexual assault. At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, a Namibian boxer forcibly kissed a waitress at an Olympic Village hotel.

Two other Moroccan boxers were accused of sexually harassing two female cleaners. The 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City saw a Brigham Young student who was volunteering told police an alpine skier sexually abused her.

In the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, a Ugandan swimmer was accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl. The International Olympic Committee even made a video to raise awareness of sexual abuse at the games.

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Source: https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/national-international/Winter-Olympics-in-South-Korea-Opens-Centers-to-Address-Sexual-Assault-473734743.html

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1 Comment/s
Anonymous No. 18203 2018-02-12 : 04:08

I'm confused. Isn't sexual assault a Summer sport?

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