On January 28 and 29, the EU project SAFE HARBOUR consortium gathered in Brussels for its inaugural working meeting. This also marked the official start of this initiative. Over the course of two days, representatives of National Olympic Committees, international federations, and expert institutions joined forces to lay the groundwork for strengthening mechanisms for athlete protection.

On the first day, topics focused on the history of athlete protection, European and global protection strategies, the frequency of concerns regarding protection, and relevant regulations. Eminent experts such as Kari Fasting, Annamarie Phelps, Maja Smrdu, Kirsty Charlotte Burrows, Karolien Adriaens, and Dr. Daniele Heerdt shared their insights, providing a comprehensive overview of athlete protection in Europe. Participants also had the opportunity to engage in a Q&A session with a representative of the European Commission, receiving valuable recommendations for effective project implementation.

The second day continued with interactive sessions, where representatives from national Olympic committees and international federations shared best practices and challenges related to protection in their countries. They also worked in groups to collect data for mapping key stakeholders involved in addressing concerns regarding athlete protection, and following this, numerous discussions were opened through expert lectures, laying a strong foundation for the SAFE HARBOUR project.

The SAFE HARBOUR project brings together 27 organizations, including the European Olympic Committee (EOC - EU office), which is also the coordinator of this remarkable initiative, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), two international sports federations, 20 European National Olympic Committees (NOCs), and researchers and experts on athlete protection (Thomas More) and human rights and law in sports (Asser Institute).

We are particularly pleased to be part of the larger Olympic sports family addressing such an important issue through the “SAFE HARBOUR” project, which will work to create a safe and supportive environment for athletes in the coming years.

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