Integrity

Integrity is essential to ensuring Special Olympics is safe, fair, and trusted at every level of the game. It guides how we protect people, uphold fair play, and respond when concerns are raised. At SONZ, integrity exists to support participation, safeguard wellbeing, and ensure decisions and behaviours reflect the values of our sport. 

Special Olympics New Zealand & Special Olympics Club Safeguarding Leads Special Olympics New Zealand (SONZ) is committed to safe sports opportunities for all participants. We recognise our responsibility to promote safe practices, to protect participants from possible harm while engaging with Special Olympics activity, The SONZ Participant Protection Framework covers the policy and processes to support this work, which includes the appointment of Safeguarding Leads, whose role is to be the ‘go to’ for the Special Olympics community for any Safeguarding queries and questions. 

SONZ Athlete Safeguarding Leads

Josh Sprott
community@specialolympics.org.nz
027 254 2779

Fran Scholey
ceo@specialolympics.org.nz
021 451 243

In addition, each affiliated Special Olympics Club is required to appoint a Club Safeguarding Lead (CSL) to act as the point of contact for SONZ re: safeguarding processes and education, the point of contact for questions and concerns within their club community, and responsible for ensuring appropriate safeguarding information is available and understood by their club community.

Everyone involved in Special Olympics has a role to play in keeping our game safe. If you have information that a child or young person has been harmed or is at risk of harm or abuse it’s important to take action. 

• Anti-Doping Policy
• Special Olympics New Zealand Athlete Code of Conduct
• Code of Conduct - Athletes
• Code of Conduct - Volunteers
• Complaints, Member Discipline and Concerns Policy
• Complaints Form
• Participation Protection Framework 

There are several ways you can do this: 

• If you can, raise it internally at your club or association – a Club Safeguarding Lead, a committee member or your board chair. 
• Report to Special Olympics NZ via our complaints form.

The Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui (the Commission) is a free, confidential, and neutral service, who help solve complaints in sport and recreation. Raising issues early makes them easier to fix and reduces harm.

The Commission is culturally responsive and offer tikanga-based support. They also help children and young people take part in decisions that affect them. 

You can contact the Commission about:

• bullying, abuse, violence, harassment, or sexual misconduct
• unsafe environments for children
• racism and other types of discrimination 
• match-fixing
• corruption, fraud, and other dishonest behaviour
• poor handling of integrity issues by organisations

The situation needs to be related in some way to sport and recreation. The Commission expects you would have followed the steps outlined above in reporting a breach or concern to the appropriate contacts. If you have done this and feel the issue isn’t resolved you can contact the Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui on 0800 378 437 or visit their website to make an integrity complaint. You can find more information on the Commission’s Complaints and resolutions page.