Canada's Chef de Mission Ben Matchett, right, is confident that the implemented measures will prevent abuse within his delegation at Lake Placid 2023 ©U Sports

Canada's Chef de Mission for the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Winter World University Games here, Ben Matchett, has put his faith into anti-abuse initiatives the team have been put through for the event.

Several scandals have emerged in Canadian governing bodies prompting multiple of them, including taekwondo, ice hockey, rowing, figure skating, and bobsleigh and skeleton, to sign up to the Abuse-Free Sport programme.

"There have been full background checks that have been instituted for all athletes and staff here," Matchett told insidethegames.

"The coaching association of Canada has created a safe sport training module which all the coaches have been required to do.

"Plus we have required all of the athletes to do it too as often it is athlete to athlete, it's not just coach to athlete in these circumstances.

"Most of these athletes and coaches that are coming from universities have had to go through substantial training in this area as well.

"We are confident in the measures that we have put in place, but always wary and on the look out because it doesn't always happen in the open."

Strict background checks have been taken before accepting each athlete and coach onto Canada's delegation for Lake Placid 2023 ©FISU
Strict background checks have been taken before accepting each athlete and coach onto Canada's delegation for Lake Placid 2023 ©FISU

Canada's Government has supported the implementation of multiple initiatives with to ensure a safe sport environment.

These include Abuse-Free Sport, Canadian Sport Helpline, the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport, and the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner.

Canada is taking the fourth-largest athlete delegation to Lake Placid with 121 representatives, behind only the United States with 150, Japan with 139, and the Czech Republic with 132.

Matchett is determined for no abuse scandal to emerge during the Games, which are due to begin tomorrow and conclude on January 22.

"There have been a significant number of steps that have been put in place through the Canadian sports system that we, as U Sports the National Federation, and then all the national sporting organisations that we are working with are working hard to eliminate that entirely from sport because it is absolutely unacceptable," he told insidethegames.

"There are enhanced requirements and training for all the athletes, coaches and other staff.

"Enhanced emphasis on the safe sport world and it is being taken very seriously."