Risk Management Project

The Risk Management Project is a multi-year initiative that has been supported by the True Sport Secretariat to investigate the barriers that stand in the way of sport organizations achieving a safe, welcoming and rewarding sport experience.  Guided by the True Sport Secretariat’s desire to bridge the gap between the sport we want (values-driven sport) and the sport we have (sport that is faced with issues such as doping, violence, harassment, exclusion, inappropriate parental conduct, etc.) a consultant was hired to further investigate these barriers from an organizational perspective.  Based on over 150 interviews with senior sport leaders and other not-for-profit leaders, as well as a review of internal practices dealing with safety and inclusion, the consultant recommended that a risk management approach be adopted to deal with the barriers that are faced by many sport administrators at all levels of the sport spectrum.  This approach was supported by the True Sport Secretariat’s Steering Committee as well as the True Sport Environment Advisory Group.

Through the consultative process, the consultant identified a number of National Sport Organizations (NSO) that had expressed interest in adopting a proactive risk management approach to their work.  It was further agreed that this approach should first be tested by the NSO community before applying it at the provincial or community level.  Ultimately, eight NSOs, one Multi-Sport Organization, and a club were selected to participate in the Risk Management Project based on the interest expressed and the commitment level of the senior leader within the NSO, their commitment and the extent to which the sports offered unique and different perspectives.