On 10 November 2023, the Roundtable Debate “Building European Safe Sport Together” took place during the EOA Congress Vilnius 2023. Under the motto “The Olympic Movement in a Changing World” the Congress of the European Olympic Academies (EOA) addressed challenges that the organised sport and the Olympic Movement are currently facing, with the topic of safeguarding in sport being one of these pressing issues.
The panel discussion, which was held in front of 50 delegates of National Olympic Academies and National Olympic Committees from Europe, was another important step in the dissemination of the project results of BESST. The expert panel, consisting of project partners Miriam Reijnen (NOC*NSF Centre for Safe Sport), Andreja McQuarrie (McQuarrie Consulting) and Alenka Hiti (Rudi Hiti Academy), was complemented by Lithuanian experts Ugne Chmeliauskaite (ENGSO Youth) and Agne Vanagiene (Lithuanian National Olympic Committee). Katrin Wallmann from the EOA chaired the session.
During the debate, aspects such as the prevalence of transgressive behaviour in European sport, what measures can be taken, especially from an educational perspective, and how a cultural change can be achieved as a basis for a harassment and abuse-free European sport environment were deliberated. The panellists shared their experiences in the field of case management and explained why preventive measures must be a core principle embedded at all levels of the sports community. The expert panel agreed that a fundamental change in thinking must take place at all decision-making levels in sport in order to create a safe sporting environment for all participants in the future. In this respect, the National Olympic Academies also play an important role by instilling values of safety, respect, and inclusivity in sports for future athletes and fans.
Overall, the roundtable debate was successfully raising awareness for the topic of safeguarding in sport. Project BESST will be pleased to stay in dialogue with various partners who have shown interest in the progress of the project and are looking forward to an exchange.
The project team can be reached via info@eoaolympic.org. Find out more on the website: https://besst-safesport.eu/
The roundtable debate on the Erasmus+ project BESST. © EOA/Renatas Mizeras 
Katrin Wallmann, EOA, who chaired the roundtable debate on safeguarding sport. © EOA/Renatas Mizeras 
An awareness video by the Safe Sport Centre of the NOC*NSF was shown. © EOA/Renatas Mizeras 
Miriam Reijnen (NOC*NSF) gave insights into how the Safe Sport Centre deals with case management. © EOA/Renatas Mizeras 
Ugne Chmeliauskaite (ENGSO Youth) gave valuable input from the perspective of ENGSO Youth. © EOA/Renatas Mizeras 
Agne Vanagiene (LTOK) shared the current situation at LTOK on building the necessary structures and campaigns. © EOA/Renatas Mizeras 
From left to right: Alenka Hiti, Andreja McQuarrie, Agne Vanagiene, Ugne Chmeliauskaite, Miriam Reijnen, Katrin Wallmann, Soenke Schadwinkel. © EOA/Renatas Mizeras
