As part of the GUARD project’s mission to establish sustainable safeguarding structures within national sport systems, the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee (COSR) successfully delivered the first national Educational Module for Child Safeguarding Officers (CSOs) on 28 May 2025, in Bucharest. The event brought together 32 designated safeguarding officers from national sports federations and 4 representatives from COSR, united by a shared commitment to promoting safer environments for children in sport.
The module was formally opened by Alina Gherghisan (COSR) and Elena Cofaru (Terre des Hommes Romania), who presented the GUARD project and highlighted its relevance in the broader context of the European Union’s prioritisation of child safeguarding in sport.
The opening session continued with a powerful and emotional intervention from two Olympic champions – Ana Maria Branza (fencing) and Simona Amanar (gymnastics), and one Olympian – Mihai Donosa (athletics), who shared their reflections on what a safe training environment means in high-performance sport. Their thoughts were guided by four thought-provoking questions:
- What is the first word that comes to mind when you hear “safeguarding”?
- How would you define a safe sports environment?
- How many of the Olympic values are truly promoted in sport today?
- What are three elements you associate with the role of a Child Safeguarding Officer?
Their honest and personal perspectives brought depth and authenticity to the conversation, setting an inspiring tone for the rest of the day.
The first educational session offered a foundational introduction to safeguarding principles and definitions, followed by a session delivered by Terre des Hommes Romania, focusing on the specific risks children may face in different sporting contexts—including travel, camps, competitions, training sessions, and locker rooms. These discussions were highly interactive, encouraging participants to reflect on their own settings and share lived experiences.
A short 15-minute lunch break also served as an opportunity for group work, where participants engaged in scenario-based discussions and began building collaborative relationships with their peers.
After the break, Cristian Jura, member of the COSR Ethics Commission, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the Romanian legal framework related to child protection and safeguarding in sport. His contribution was highly appreciated, as many participants expressed interest in deepening their understanding of legal responsibilities.
The final session of the day focused on the roles and responsibilities of Child Safeguarding Officers, bringing together theory, institutional expectations, and concrete action points for future implementation.
Although the official training programme ran from 11:00 to 17:00, participants expressed a strong desire for more time, especially to continue discussions and practical exercises. It was clear that at least two more hours would have been useful to cover the content in greater depth.
Beyond its educational dimension, the day also marked the beginning of a new professional community. A genuine sense of team spirit emerged among the participants, with plans already forming for a pre-departure overnight meeting at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Training Centre in Izvorani before the international module in Croatia. Participants expressed a strong need to continue learning and exchanging, forming what is already shaping up to be a cohesive and motivated safeguarding team.
The first educational module in Romania was a true marathon of learning, sharing, and community building.
