The Commonwealth Games Federation has introduced a new safeguarding initiative named after former Bermuda Olympic Association president Judy Simons.

In announcing “Judy’s Legacy”, the Commonwealth Games Federation described Simons, who died this year at the age of 71, as a “passionate advocate for athlete welfare both in Bermuda and the Commonwealth.”

The programme is intended to focus on enhancing the safety and wellbeing of all participants by promoting best practices and providing the necessary tools, resources, and education to uphold the highest standards of protection within the Commonwealth’s sporting community.

It will be rolled out globally with the Americas the first region to implement the policy.

“By recognising Judy in this programme, her legacy with the CGF, where she was last the regional vice-president for the Americas Region, will certainly continue to be remembered and felt by the sporting community, both locally and around the world,” Peter Dunne, president of BOA said.

“Safeguarding programmes are now an integral part of how sport organisations educate and support athletes. To have Judy’s name associated with this great project is an honour for Bermuda and the BOA.”

Chris Jenkins, CGF president, paid tribute to Simons as he unveiled the programme.

‘‘Judy Simons’s dedication and service were an inspiration to all, and she was passionate about ensuring that all voices within her region were heard, and this was at the forefront of what she set out to achieve in safeguarding in sport,“ Jenkins said.

“In tribute to her trailblazing work, we are setting out an ambitious safeguarding programme for the Commonwealth Sport Movement with the goal to increase awareness of safeguarding among our communities and athletes, and improving safeguarding accessibility by developing resource and training tools adaptable for various CGA internal environments including CGA programmes, Games Teams, and National Federations.’’