New Zealand sport `playing Russian roulette` with athletes` welfare, says NZAF boss Roger Mortimer

....."It`s all around identity foreclosure where boys and girls are growing up in sporting environments where they sort of identify themselves as a sports person as opposed to a person that plays sport.

"The big difference being that they close themselves off to learning, development and other areas of their life.....

....."In my opinion, we don`t have a safe environment in New Zealand in our sporting environment for everybody. I honestly believe our system is playing Russian roulette with the welfare of young men and women.

"Their wellbeing is completely haphazard and it`s completely dependent on whether they basically come across someone in their life that will keep them grounded. If that doesn`t happen, then the consequences are drastic.".....

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Bethany`s Notes: A reality in many countries regarding Olympic athletes. Their experience after retiring is difficult because they have identified with their sport for such a long period of time.