On Thursday, 5 June 2025, the Slovenian Olympic Committee – Association of Sports Federations successfully delivered the first national training module for Child Safeguarding Officers (CSOs) within the framework of the European Erasmus+ project GUARD. The session was held at the Slovenian Olympic Education Centre in Ljubljana.
The event gathered representatives of national sports federations who, as appointed child safeguarding officers, will play a key role in preventing abuse and ensuring a safe environment for young athletes.
The training opened with remarks by Peter Dokl, Olympian and Head of the Athletes and Olympic Values Department at the Slovenian Olympic Committee, who thanked participants for their strong response and emphasized the importance of actively engaging all stakeholders in a systematic approach to child protection in sport.
Participants then attended three expert-led sessions:
- Dr. Maja Smrdu, clinical and sport psychologist, introduced fundamental concepts of child safeguarding in sport, highlighting the complexity and importance of creating safe sporting environments.
- Dr. Tone Jagodic presented the national legal and regulatory framework in Slovenia, underlining the legal obligations of sports organizations.
- Peter Dokl concluded with a practical session on the specific roles and responsibilities that safeguarding officers will assume after completing the training cycle.
The module was delivered in a professional yet interactive atmosphere, with discussions and practical examples that participants could directly apply within their organizations. This training is part of a broader cycle consisting of three thematic modules, continuing in the months ahead. Participants who complete the full cycle will receive an official training certificate.
Supported by the Erasmus+ Programme, the GUARD project is one of the most comprehensive European initiatives aimed at strengthening child protection in sport. Trainings such as this one in Ljubljana make a vital contribution to building sustainable structures and competencies to prevent violence, abuse, and neglect in sport, while promoting a culture of zero tolerance towards inappropriate behaviour.
