A/HRC/30/50 81. At the international level, the main challenges in the promotion of human rights through sport and the Olympic ideal include the inclusion of professional athletes in the Olympic games, the trading of athletes, the rapid introduction of technology in developing countries (and the consequent increase of the cost of sporting activities) and the obligation to recruit and pay sponsors in order to take part in high-level sporting events. This list is not exhaustive, but it is evident that such practices have deeply affected the field of international sport, especially in developing countries. 82. International athletes are often considered as commodities, for instance, in the World Cup, where sometimes games have allegedly been rigged. The rights of athletes are sometimes at stake owing to the exploitation they face. In many regions in the world, athletes are treated like goods when they are being transferred from one club to another. Although the word “sell” does not appear in the deals, the conditions may amount to treating players like goods. Moreover, the deals struck with clubs are mostly arranged by third parties, who work as middlemen. In certain instances, while the negotiations for deals are in progress, the athletes may become the victims of human traffickers. 83. Another concern relates to the lack of a human rights code of conduct. For instance, in Asia, the largest and most important Asian sporting confederation is the Asian Football Confederation, which was established in 1954 in the Philippines and whose headquarters are currently located in Malaysia. It is one of the six confederations that make up FIFA. There has been no report of any serious human rights violations or abuses by the Confederation in the past; however there have been a few allegations, which cannot be substantiated. With the advancement of human rights issues in sport, a human rights code of conduct for all affiliated members of the Confederation gains importance as a preventive measure for any future human rights violation. For instance, a code of conduct encompassing all federations under FIFA could be developed, enabling a culture of human rights to flourish within the members of the Confederation, which would strengthen respect for human rights in sport in general. 84. A lot of focus has been placed on competitive sport. However, the importance of promoting non-competitive sports, or sports that do not produce opponents, those with a collective and supportive nature, or those that do not have a winner and a loser, should also not be disregarded. 85. Outdated coaching methods, which are hierarchical and confrontational, though this cannot be generalized, also raise some concern. Structures such as the Winning Scotland Foundation provide a new and inclusive approach to coaching techniques. 86. The behaviour of parents and caretakers on the touchline, lack of equal access to sporting facilities and training times are also issues that need to be addressed, since these are often factors that exclude young people from playing and participating. 87. Major sporting events, such as the Olympic Games, can put children at a greater risk of becoming victims of sexual exploitation, with the arrival of thousands of additional tourists in a festive environment, thus increasing the number of potential abusers. Countries that have recently hosted major sporting events, such as Brazil, Poland and South Africa, deployed efforts to minimize the risks of children becoming victims of sexual exploitation. It is important to take stock of these recent efforts, good practices and lessons learned, in order to minimize risks for vulnerable children. Through comprehensive and sustainable child protection strategies, ethical and responsible sporting events can be developed. III. Recommendations A. 18 National legislation and executive practice