The SAFE HARBOUR consortium successfully submitted the Stakeholders Database in March 2026. This step brings the project closer to strengthening safeguarding systems across sport in Europe.  

The Stakeholders Database has been created with the objective of improving coordination and visibility among stakeholders and jurisdiction of responsibilities when responding to safeguarding concern and violation. By consolidating this information in a single platform, the project aims to establish a shared resource for NOCS and IFs to identify relevant stakeholders both nationally and internationally; thereby, encouraging more collaboration and stronger safeguarding protocols in sports. The Gap Report identified key stakeholder clusters operating both on a national and international level within the sport sector, and beyond. These include sport-specific bodies such as National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and its structures, and a broad range of external organisations including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), public authorities, and specialised child advocacy support services amongst others. By collecting these diverse actors and mapping their respective impacts, the project can have a solid foundation of information. This data was initially collected through a shared online database tool, designed to capture all relevant systemic structures, and subsequently compiled into the Stakeholders Database, organised according to a “search by country” and “type of organisation” structure.

This collaborative approach has helped strengthen both the accuracy and the relevance of the database. As a result, information from 20 NOCs and 2 IFs were collected with data organised by type of organisation, relevant contact details, and functions of each actor within the system.

As safeguarding awareness continues to grow within European sport, the database is intended to remain relevant, with regular updates and monitoring, reflecting new developments and emerging actors through the SAFE HARBOUR project.

Looking ahead, the tool is expected not only to support the ongoing work of the SAFE HARBOUR project but also to serve as a valuable resource for other stakeholders in their research. The database will be made available as an interactive online tool via the SAFE HARBOUR platform, ensuring easy access to relevant information for project partners. Through this initiative, the consortium reinforces its commitment to building safer sport environments through cross-sector collaboration.

Given the sensitive nature of the data collected as part of this deliverable and so to comply with the GDPR, the Stakeholders’ Database remains a confidential deliverable. As public version of the deliverable is nonetheless available here.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE SAFE HARBOUR PROJECT.

The SAFE HARBOUR project, short for “Strengthening Response Mechanisms for Safeguarding in European Sport”, is a 30-month project co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Sport Programme 2024. Coordinated by the EOC EU Office, the consortium includes Thomas More and Asser Institute as experts on safeguarding, human rights and law, 2 International Federations (International Biathlon Union and International Ice Hockey Federations), and 20 National Olympic Committees (Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia). Additionally, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is involved as an outside resource.

The project seeks to strengthen the capacity of European NOCs and Federations to address safeguarding concerns by identifying gaps, developing a European Response framework, and fostering collaboration. This framework will be adapted to national contexts, complemented by training and awareness initiatives to enhance safeguarding measures at both national and European levels. Therefore, SAFE HARBOUR aims to equip partner NOCs and Federations with the tools and confidence to implement effective safeguarding measures while establishing a robust support network for Safeguarding Officers and laying the groundwork for a future IOC Regional Safeguarding Hub.