On 28-29 January 2025, the SAFE HARBOUR project officially commenced with its Kick-off Meeting in Brussels, bringing together representatives from the project’s 27 partner organisations. Coordinated by the EOC EU Office and co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme, this initiative aims to strengthen safeguarding response mechanism in European sport by identifying key challenges, improving policies, and fostering collaboration across borders. 

Over the course of two days, participants engaged in a series of expert presentations, technical discussions, and collaborative workshops to set the stage for the project’s first phase.

Day 1 provided a comprehensive overview of the safeguarding landscape, covering topics such as the history of safeguarding in sport, safeguarding strategies at the European and global levels, and the prevalence of safeguarding concerns in European sport. Participants also had the opportunity to engage in a Q&A session with a representative from the European Commission, gaining valuable insights and practical recommendations for successful project implementation.  

Day 2 focused on practical and technical discussions, where representatives of the National Olympic Committees and International Federations shared best practices and challenges related to safeguarding in their countries. The meeting also provided a platform for partners to give feedback on deliverables currently in development and to collaborate in group sessions to begin mapping key stakeholders involved in case handling of safeguarding concerns.  

Throughout the meeting, interactive roundtables and open discussions allowed partner to align on priorities, ensuring a structured and effective approach to the project’s implementation. Social activities also played a key role in strengthening collaboration among consortium members, fostering an environment of trust and shared commitment. 

With this successful Kick-off Meeting, SAFE HARBOUR is now fully underway, taking its first concrete steps toward building a harmonised European safeguarding framework and empowering sport organisations to effectively prevent and respond to safeguarding concerns.  

To stay updated on the project’s progress follow the SAFE HARBOUR website, LinkedIn page, and Newsletter.