The certificate, one of three safeguarding initiatives approved by the Executive Board during its latest remote meeting today, will be awarded to officials who complete a course which is due to launch in September of next year.

Registration will be open to everyone but the IOC said it was particularly aimed at International Federations, National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and National Federations.

Completing the course does not appear to be mandatory for those working in sport or people hoping to join an IF or NOC.

The IOC said the certificate is "a first of its kind because there is currently no certificate or minimum standard of education or training for safeguarding officers in sport on an international level".

A further 11 safeguarding webinars will also be made available to NOCs next month, while the IOC is planning to run a safe sport digital education and awareness campaign in the build-up to the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

IOC President Thomas Bach said recent revelations of abuse, sexual abuse and harassment in sport had showed how the organisation needs to "strengthen our efforts in this respect".

"We need to make every effort to keep athletes safe and to guard their rights," Bach added.

"I am pleased that we can today initiate this certificate to enhance awareness and education in this important area of athlete welfare, reinforcing the stance against all forms of harassment and abuse in sport."

Several abuse scandals in sports such as gymnastics and triathlon have come to light this year, leading to calls for safeguarding measures to be strengthened.

Gymnasts from countries including Australia, Britain, The Netherlands and New Zealand have made allegations of abuse in the wake of the Athlete A documentary on Netflix, which centres on the scandal in gymnastics in the United States.

South Korean triathlon coach Kim Kyu-bong and team captain Jang Yun-jung were banned for life in August for their alleged abusing of triathlete Choi Suk-hyeon, who took her own life as a result of the treatment she suffered.

A recent report from Human Rights Watch documented how Japanese child athletes are routinely subjected to physical, sexual and verbal abuse from their coaches.

Entitled "I Was Hit So Many Times I Can't Count: Abuse of Child Athletes in Japan", the report also outlined how some athletes had taken their own lives.