On 28 May 2025, the Lithuanian National Olympic Committee (LNOC) hosted its first national workshop under the Erasmus+ GUARD project, focused on strengthening child safeguarding practices within sport. The training marked a significant step in developing the role of Child Safeguarding Officers (CSOs) in Lithuania and ensuring safer environments for young athletes across the country.
The module was formally opened by Einius Petkus, General Director of the Lithuanian National Olympic Committee, who welcomed the participants and emphasized the urgent need to prioritize child protection as a core value within the Lithuanian sports community. Furthermore, led by Agne Vanagiene, LNOC’s dedicated Child Safeguarding Officer, the session brought together 20 participants representing various national sports federations. The goal of the workshop was to provide foundational knowledge on safeguarding, create space for open dialogue, and begin shaping a shared approach to preventing harm in sport.
The workshop began with an introduction to the GUARD project and its goals, emphasizing the broader European movement to embed safeguarding structures within national sport systems. Agne Vanagiene also outlined the expected role of CSOs and the importance of establishing practical policies and response mechanisms within each federation.
An important highlight of the event was a guest presentation from a representative of the Lithuanian Football Federation, who shared their experience in implementing safeguarding policies, managing reports, and educating coaches and staff. Their real-world perspective offered valuable context and showed participants how safeguarding can be effectively integrated into daily operations.
The educational content covered a range of topics, including:
- Core principles and terminology related to child safeguarding;
- Identifying potential risks across different sport settings;
- Responsibilities of Child Safeguarding Officers;
- Best practices for prevention, intervention, and reporting.
Interactive activities encouraged participants to work through real-life scenarios and reflect on challenges they might face in their own federations. These group discussions fostered a strong sense of collaboration and mutual support among attendees, many of whom were engaging with safeguarding topics in an official capacity for the first time.
Although the workshop spanned the entire day, it became clear that the topic was both fresh and highly engaging for most participants. The level of interest and willingness to contribute personal insights led to in-depth conversations, which continued even as the formal schedule drew to a close. In fact, several discussions had to be wrapped up due to time constraints, highlighting a clear need for extended dialogue and further exploration of the subject.
Participants appreciated the practical nature of the training and expressed a need for additional resources, especially related to national legal requirements and reporting procedures. There was a shared understanding that safeguarding must go beyond compliance as it requires cultural change, consistent education, and leadership from within the sport community.
Overall, the workshop was considered a success by both organizers and participants. The high level of engagement and open discussion showed a strong interest in this topic, and participants expressed clear enthusiasm for future workshops and continued learning opportunities in safeguarding.
