Lecturer Zrinka Greblo Jurakić from the Department of Psychology at the Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, and a member of the EU Council’s international expert group on safe sport principles, introduced participants to the basic principles of safe sport. This was followed by the lecture “STOP Violence in Sport: Recognizing Online and Sexual Violence,” delivered by the Children’s Ombudsperson Helenca Pirnat Dragičević and clinical psychologist and head of the Youth Health Centre, Ella Selak Bagarić.
Internal medicine specialist and subspecialist in endocrinology and diabetology, Davorka Herman Mahečić, presented the topic “Your Path Without Doping – Everything an Athlete Needs to Know – rules and prohibited substances – dietary supplements and risks – practical questions and interactive discussion.”
After participants took the opportunity for individual consultations with the lecturers, two more lectures followed –
“Recognize and Respond to Manipulation in Sport,” delivered by attorney Lovre Badžim and Croatian Olympic Committee legal adviser Matea Horvat.
The highlight of the first day was a very engaging panel discussion: “How I Can Be an Example of Safe Sport,” featuring kickboxer Helena Jurišić, celebrated handball player Petar Metličić, Hajduk captain Filip Krovinović, and coaching representative Jozo Jakelić.
On the second day, the same lecturers returned with adapted content for coaches, joined by the director of the Centre for Research and Development of Elite Sports Preparation, Igor Jukić, with the lecture “The Sports Coach – Provider and Seeker of Protection.”
From the very beginning, the Safe Sport project of the Croatian Olympic Committee received valuable support from current and former elite athletes: Martin and Valent Sinković, Marin Čilić, Barbara Matić, Miran Maričić, Domagoj Duvnjak, Ivan Martinović, Filip Glavaš, Matea Parlov Koštro, Iva Rožić, Jana Koščak, Snježana Pejčić, Vlado Šola, Andrea Ivančević Petrač…
Coaching support came from Igor Čordaš (athletics), Mia Šimunić (water polo), Vladimir Mađarević (gymnastics), as well as numerous sports officials such as Croatian Olympic Committee President Zlatko Mateša and President of the Croatian Olympic Committee Commission for Gender Equality in Sport, Morana Paliković Gruden…
The Split edition of this important training once again showed that it is essential to talk to younger generations of Croatian athletes about safe sport, to educate them in order to raise awareness of the importance of protection, education, and the creation of a positive sporting environment. This was also demonstrated by the large turnout at the educational events on both days. (hoo/vk)
