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Five-time Olympic champion Sir Bradley Wiggins says it is vital to increase the safety of children in sport.<\/span><\/p>\n Briton Wiggins, 42, <\/span>revealed in April<\/span><\/a> that he was groomed by a coach as a child and is urging people to support a new NSPCC safety initiative. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The child protection charity said that the number of adults contacting a helpline about children in sport has almost doubled in the last five years.<\/span><\/p>\n The FA and ex-England midfielder Paul Stewart are also backing the campaign.<\/span><\/p>\n “We must make sport safe for children and make it easier for parents – and all people in sport – to recognise and understand how they themselves can support a safer sports environment,” said Tour de France winner Wiggins.<\/span><\/p>\n Launching the Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week campaign, the NSPCC said that a poll of 1,000 parents had shown that 15% of respondents did not feel confident they could spot the signs of their child suffering abuse at their local sports club.<\/span><\/p>\n The number of calls to the NSPCC’s helpline in which the locations of concern were a sports setting increased from 155 to 301 between 2017 and 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n Former Manchester City, Tottenham and Liverpool player Stewart was sexually abused by a football coach as a child and now <\/span>campaigns on the issue<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n “It is absolutely vital that safeguarding is a top priority in children’s sport,” said the 57-year-old, adding that the importance of awareness campaigns “cannot be understated”.<\/span><\/p>\n “Every child should be able to enjoy sport without the risk of abuse,” he said.<\/span><\/p>\n The Football Association is taking part in awareness-raising events this week, including a virtual webinar by the Premier League.<\/span><\/p>\n The NSPCC is sharing information and resources, with people encouraged to use the hashtag #SafeInSport.<\/span><\/p>\n If you have been affected by issues raised in this article, there is information and support available <\/em><\/strong>on BBC Action Line.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n