Why SOS Will Not Wade Into The Shallows Of A BBC Report
Editorial on the deeper dive and understanding required at a time when a review is underway into working practices, the work environment and governance in swimming in England
Many readers will be aware of a BBC report issued yesterday focussing on a narrow line in a much wider story in the UK (with parallels elsewhere) of how swimming has handled matters that stretch across a wide spectrum from the circumstances in which athletes are weighed in performance sport to serious criminality, including rape and others forms of violent and sexual abuse.
Some of those matters sit together very uncomfortably.
Scrutiny is welcome, of course, but on this occasion State of Swimming will not be repeating or reporting on the content, neither partially nor in full. The BBC's report, subject to dispute, is out there for anyone to see, as is this response from Swim Ireland in connection to a narrow part of the Panorama program that refers to departing performance director Jon Rudd (who is also head of the World Coaches Association).
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SOS understands that some of those named in the BBC's Panorama program aired last night and visible to UK viewers on the broadcaster’s iplayer are now taking legal advice with a view to redress.
