Child Protection at Mega Sporting Events: IOC and FIFA Policies and Their Implementation in Türkiye

This study comparatively examines the child protection policies of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), analysing their implementation at mega sporting events and their alignment with national practices in Türkiye from a multi-level governance perspective. The research adopts a qualitative design, employing systematic document analysis and thematic content analysis. The data set includes the IOC Safeguarding Toolkit (2017), the FIFA Child safeguarding toolkit (2019), official reports from mega sporting events between Rio 2016 and Paris 2024, and national policy documents from Türkiye. The analysis is structured around key themes: policy scope, types of abuse, prevention and risk management, education and awareness, reporting and intervention mechanisms, child participation, implementation and monitoring, and data protection and privacy. The theoretical framework draws on Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Findings indicate that voluntary guidelines lacking binding standards and independent monitoring mechanisms are insufficient for effective child protection. While both the IOC and FIFA have made progress in institutionalising safeguarding practices, FIFA provides a more operational and enforceable framework. In contrast, child protection practices in Türkiye remain fragmented and limited in scope. The study concludes that safeguarding children at mega sporting events constitutes not only an ethical responsibility but also a legal and administrative obligation requiring comprehensive and sustainable governance structures.