The British Elite Athletes Association (BEAA) will operate an extended support service for the duration of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with every athlete selected by the British Olympic Association (BOA) and ParalympicsGB able to access independent advice and guidance.
The BEAA team will be on-hand from 07-23:00 CEST, seven days a week, from July 22 to September 8 to assist athletes on mental health, welfare, safeguarding, classification, anti-doping, and other general advice. During this window any British athlete selected for Paris 2024 can make contact, regardless of their sport, funding level, or previous engagement with the BEAA. BEAA members not travelling to Paris can continue to access full support too.
Additionally, any staff member with concerns about any athlete can raise this with the BEAA, who will be available to support and advise.
Athletes and staff can reach out via:
Since the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, one in 10 elite athletes have received support from the BEAA each year. The team provides a mixture of listening, advice, and referrals to legal or health professionals.
In Paris, Team GB will also support athletes on the ground with a trained clinician and supporting doctor, as well as two Team GB psychologists leading a team of mental health champions across the delegation.
ParalympicsGB will have a welfare team of trained mental health champions and Safeguarding Officers along with two clinical psychologists to support the team.
There will also be dedicated spaces in the ParalympicsGB apartment block within the Athletes’ Village and at ParalympicsGB House, where team members can relax and recharge in a calm environment.
BEAA CEO Anna Watkins said: “We’re proud to support all our members year-round, and being able to extend that to every selected athlete any time of day this summer is hugely important. The Games is an extraordinary rollercoaster, regardless of results. The BEAA support team understand that and are always here when needed to provide independent advice in full confidence, in addition to support through the BOA and ParalympicsGB.
“For those athletes who aren’t competing in Paris – for whatever reason – it’s important to stress that the team is still here as normal. I encourage elite athletes both in Paris and the UK to reach out when they need to: we’re here to help, no matter how big or small the issue may feel.”
Mark England, Chef de Mission for Team GB, said: “Any major sporting event can come with a degree of pressure for athletes, so making sure we have the right resources in place to support both their physical and mental wellbeing is a priority. We saw how valuable the BEAA’s service was for athletes competing in Tokyo and we’re pleased that athletes in Paris will be able to access the same support.”
Clare Cunningham, ParalympicsGB’s Head of Athlete Services, said: “The health and wellbeing of all ParalympicsGB team members has been, and continues to be, our number one priority. Welfare and support is at the heart of our preparation and planning, and we have a variety of strategies in place to ensure athletes and staff are supported before, during and after the Games. The BEAA’s independent support service is a valuable addition to our framework.”
Seven-time Paralympic champion and BEAA ambassador Hannah Cockroft explained why the independent support matters, saying: “So much can happen during a major Games – either in your head or in real life. Sometimes it’s things you don’t want to share with your teammates or team staff. Having someone like the BEAA there waiting to listen and help if you need it takes that extra weight off your mind. The BEAA will be on your side and are there to listen, whether it’s first thing in the morning or last thing at night. Whatever it is, it can definitely be sorted to make sure you can fully focus on your performance.”
