A/HRC/40/51 events are no different, and in view of the absence of comprehensive research on the subject it is difficult to establish a direct link between sports events and these crimes. In line with the thematic report on sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism, it is useful to analyse the occurrence of these crimes in the context of a sudden large influx of travellers to specific destinations that may − or may not − have an existing record of human rights violations. 1. Reported child rights abuses 79. The research project “Let’s win this game together: documenting violations of children’s rights around the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil”, undertaken by the University of Dundee, has provided a unique understanding of the potential impact of major sporting events on the rights of the child. Regarding the issues of concern to the mandate of the Special Rapporteur, there was a reported increase in cases of child sexual exploitation around stadiums in particular. However, it was difficult to measure this increase precisely, mainly because instances of child sexual exploitation were often coupled with other crimes, such as physical abuse, that led to the violation being reported. 45 80. The most vulnerable children came from impoverished backgrounds and had high school dropout rates. The collected data with respect to sexual exploitation and harassment indicated that girls aged between 9 and 17 were the most vulnerable. 46 81. Child labour was also highlighted as an issue, in particular during the build-up to the major sporting event. Areas of construction became magnets for working children, in particular those in street situations. Throughout the competition, children were regularly observed to be working, often together with their families. 47 82. A particular issue of concern is the modification of child protection measures before major sports events. In Brazil, the use of children as ball boys in stadiums was banned in 2004; however, the ban was rescinded in 2013 for the World Cup so that children from 12 years of age could work in stadiums. 48 83. Another source of concern, although one not directly related to the scope of the mandate, is the violation of basic rights of children due to their displacement in the context of major sports events. The building of new infrastructure leads to displacement that is regularly undertaken with insufficient preparation to guarantee that the affected population is relocated to areas where they will have the same standard of living. In the case of Brazil, it was observed that children had to interrupt their schooling in the middle of the year because their new homes were too far from their original school and new local schools were full. Removing children from their safety net and depriving them of their basic rights, such as education, increases their vulnerability to various forms of exploitation, such as sale and sexual exploitation.49 84. A study by Terre des Hommes International Federation on the impact on child rights of the 2016 Olympic Games brought an additional perspective to the link between major sporting events and child sexual exploitation. Children facing displacement due to the construction of infrastructure indicated in interviews that they were particularly concerned by the sudden presence of a large number of male construction workers, which they saw as a potential threat of sexual abuse.50 2. Bidding processes 85. The inclusion of human rights, and child rights in particular, as a fundamental criterion in any bidding process is a marker of the commitment of awarding bodies. The Commonwealth Games Federation, for example, has included human rights considerations 45 46 47 48 49 50 12 University of Dundee, “Let’s Win This Game Together”: Documenting Violations of Children’s Rights Around the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil (n.d.). Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Terre des Hommes International Federation, Breaking Records: Child Rights Violations during the Rio 2016 Olympics (Cologny, Switzerland, 2016), pp. 24−25.