Austria sports clubs face violence concerns and sustainability challenges

Recent findings from the CASES study, an EU-funded project involving the University of Vienna, have highlighted significant issues regarding violence in Austrian organized sports. According to the data, 61 percent of approximately 1,500 surveyed Austrian youths reported experiencing psychological violence, while one-third experienced physical violence and 16 percent reported sexual violence involving physical contact. In competitive sports involving international competitions, the reported rate of violence rose to 86 percent.

State Secretary Michaela Schmidt noted that perpetrators include coaches, supervisors, and peers. In response, a reform process is underway to strengthen the ‘Austrian Safe Sport Code’.

Separately, the role of volunteers is being emphasized as a cornerstone of Austrian club sports. Beyond administrative tasks, volunteers are identified as the primary drivers for implementing sustainability within sports clubs through small-scale, practical actions such as reducing waste or organizing carpools.