A male employee of the Olympic Committee was guilty of verbal harassment towards a female expert at the Olympic team’s training camp before the Tokyo Summer Olympics.
The handling of the incident of harassment that took place at the preparation camp for the Tokyo Olympics more than a year ago is still ongoing in the Olympic Committee (OK).
An expert from the Finnish Sports Confederation (SUL) had been dining with the Olympic team, when an OK employee had stated to him that “you now have a new job here at the camp, that you can come and wash my seats in my room every night, because I don’t trust these men as cleaners”.
After the incident, SUL’s expert tried to discuss what had happened with representatives of OK and SUL, but the matter was not addressed until this spring.
Suek and the Commissioner for Equality made their own reports on the matter, which were completed in June. According to the Equality Commissioner, OK neglected its duty to intervene in sexual harassment that came to its attention, and its actions were not sufficient.
CEO of the Olympic Committee Taina Susiluoto according to the matter was discussed in July by OK’s board. Susuluoto has invited the parties concerned to mediation.
– Reconciliation has not happened yet, because everyone has been on vacation for the summer. Looking for calendar time.
Instructions updated
OK and SUL said in the reports that they received information about the incident immediately. According to the organizations, they were not aware of the case being examined as possible sexual harassment until the media reported on the case in the spring of 2022.
How do you see the Olympic Committee being successful in dealing with the issue?
– I have read the statement of the equality commissioner and Suek’s additional report. It’s a bit difficult to find out what happened in the end, because the situation is a bit word for word and there are no witnesses. The matter should be taken seriously so that the matter is opened up among the parties involved and with everyone in the management chain. OK’s board has also dealt with this, Susiluoto commented.
According to Susiluoto, the Olympic Committee has updated its guidelines and operating models and increased training.
– In the future, it is clear that the threshold for reporting is low, and everyone bears responsibility for their own behavior.