On 3 and 4 November, EOC EU Office Senior Policy Officer Elisabeth Strobach had the honour to represent the European Olympic Committees at the 19th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers Responsible for Sport, held in Monaco under the theme “Safer and healthier sport for all children.”

Contributing to the session “Building a common commitment to safer and healthier sport, the EOC shared insights from SAFE HARBOUR, an EU-funded project coordinated by the EOC EU Office with National Olympic Committees, International Federations and independent experts to develop a common European Response Framework and National Safeguarding Strategies. Stressing that safeguarding commitments must lead to effective, independent, athlete-centred and trauma-informed responses, which also requires close cooperation between sport organisations and public authorities, especially in cross-border cases. “Safeguarding must be more than a policy document. It must become an integral part of the organisational culture of sport, from the grassroots to the Olympic level.”

The conference led to the adoption of the resolution on “Safer and healthier sport for all children and young people”. Ahead of the Conference, the EOC also took part in the EPAS Consultative Committee meeting, which held discussions focused on three priorities: turning commitments into practice, involving young people and children, and strengthening cooperation through shared responsibility. 

Photo: © Stéphane DANNA / Direction de la Communication