After almost three years of European cooperation, the Erasmus+ co-funded project GUARD – Safeguarding Children in Sport is approaching an important milestone: its Final Conference, taking place on 24 November 2026 in Zagreb, Croatia, with the possibility to participate both in person and online.
Organised by the Croatian Olympic Committee, the conference will bring together representatives of the Olympic and sports movement, national sports federations, safeguarding experts, policymakers and other stakeholders to present the project’s key achievements and explore how its results can contribute to safer sporting environments for children across Europe.
From project results to practical implementation
Throughout its implementation, GUARD has focused on strengthening safeguarding structures within national sport systems, particularly through the development of practical resources and educational opportunities for Child Safeguarding Officers.
One of the project’s major achievements has been the implementation of a three-module educational programme, combining national training, international exchange and practical application. The programme included a major transnational educational event in Zagreb in October 2025, gathering more than 170 participants, alongside an additional session in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Building on the experience and feedback collected throughout these activities, the project partners have further refined the GUARD educational framework and practical safeguarding materials.
The Final Conference will present these results, including guidance and procedures for safeguarding children in sport, resources for Child Safeguarding Officers, training materials and a model education and training framework.
The programme will also feature national experiences, expert discussions and opportunities to explore synergies with other European initiatives dedicated to safeguarding in sport.
GUARD newsletters now available in all project languages
To support the dissemination of the project’s achievements and encourage participation in the Final Conference, the latest GUARD newsletter has been published in all project languages.
The newsletters provide an overview of the project’s progress, educational activities and key results, together with information about the upcoming Final Conference and opportunities to participate.
By making the newsletters available in multiple languages, the GUARD consortium aims to ensure that the information reaches a wider audience of sports organisations, safeguarding professionals and other stakeholders across participating countries.
Join us in Zagreb or online
📅 Date: Tuesday, 24 November 2026
🕐 Time: 13:00–16:30 CET
📍 Venue: Sheraton Zagreb Hotel, Zagreb, Croatia
💻 Format: Hybrid – in person and online
📝 Registration deadline: Friday, 13 November 2026
Participation is free of charge, but advance registration is required.
As the number of places for in-person participation is limited, interested participants are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Those unable to attend in Zagreb are warmly invited to follow the conference online.
[REGISTER FOR THE GUARD FINAL CONFERENCE]
The GUARD Final Conference represents an opportunity not only to reflect on the project’s achievements, but also to strengthen cooperation and encourage the continued use of its resources beyond the project’s lifetime.
One project. Seven countries. A shared responsibility: making sport safer for every child.
Read the GUARD Final Conference newsletter in your preferred language:
