Two years after an investigation into sexual violence in sport which had caused a lot of noise, the newspaper The Team
this time tackles hazing. A physical and psychological practice banned in France since 1928, but which remains deeply rooted in sport. However, hazing can have devastating and indelible consequences on individuals and careers according to the survey.
Swimmer Alain Bernard testifies to his hazing
Journalist Jean-Christophe Collin explains the need for this survey in the sports world. “I didn’t really see the problem of hazing. I had an almost positive opinion on hazing, I thought it had an essential function in sport, especially in team sports, to unite a team, that it was a necessary and rather jovial initiation rite”, he admits. “And finally, I discovered the other side of the coin: I discovered that hazing was a real problem in sport, much more serious than I thought.”
To show this “reverse side of the coin”, the journalist has built his investigation according to four chapters which explore in particular the ravages of this practice in handball. Even if he specifies that all sports are concerned at different levels. The report also gives the floor to young victims, all anonymized. All fear reprisals or exclusion from the group. The investigation is also fed by testimonies from athletes like Alain Bernard who was the victim of certain criminal practices.
The risk of “traumatic added value”
Jean-Christophe Collin clarifies at the microphone of Europe 1 what struck him the most in this investigation. “I discovered that a harmless gesture could have terrible consequences, because we don’t always know the people with whom we share a locker room,” he explains. “Making someone suffer this humiliation can be added to an existing trauma. This is what specialists call ‘traumatic added value’. deeper.”
The journalist hopes that this investigation will open the eyes of the sports world. “The idea is to hit a little point on the table,” he slices. “Hazing is a real problem, which is still too present in sport, and even at a very high level. Through this survey, the idea is to say that it has to stop. Society is changing, and there is has practices that are no longer acceptable in 2022.”
The investigation of The Team “Hazing, investigation into the scourge of sport” is to be found in the newspaper on Tuesday The Team. It will be available from Monday evening on the site The Explore Team.