Global Launch of The Strong Side™: A Game-Changing Fan Safety and Empowerment Program for Sports

The International Association of ESD Professionals (IAESDP) has announced the global launch of The Strong Side™, a pioneering fan safety and empowerment initiative designed to prevent gender-based violence (GBV) and foster safer, more inclusive environments in professional sports. 

Built on evidence-based Empowerment Self Defense (ESD) methods, The Strong Side™ equips clubs, leagues, and sports organizations with practical tools to prevent harassment, abuse, and violence, all while delivering measurable returns through increased fan trust, sponsor confidence, and revenue growth. 

The program includes a comprehensive suite of actions, from grassroots safety initiatives and VIP women’s game events to branded merchandise and high-profile sponsorship opportunities. Independent impact tracking will be conducted by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. 

“Clubs worldwide face a clear choice: invest in prevention now or risk the financial, reputational, and human cost of inaction,” said Lissette E. Brassac-Fitzgerald, Executive Director of IAESDP. “The Strong Side™ is not only a safety solution—it’s a business opportunity and a leadership statement.” 

The launch of The Strong Side™ is a global effort, delivered in collaboration with trusted project partners across Latin America, North America, Europe, and Oceania, including ESD Brasil, ESD Europe, ESD Canada, ASSERT Empowerment, and others. 

With abuse scandals costing clubs millions in fines and lost sponsorships, The Strong Side™ offers a timely, research-backed alternative to protect people and strengthen brands. 

 

Media Inquiries:
press@thestrongside.team 

This is a post B

“But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness.

No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful.

Nor again is there anyone who loves

r pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?”

Nor again is there anyone who loves

This is a post A

“But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?”