Ilustracija: HOOZagreb, April 29, 2025 – Sport should be a place where everyone feels safe, respected, and dignified, regardless of gender, background, religion, ability, or any other characteristic – but that is not always the case. Violence, harassment, and abuse unfortunately exist even in sports.
To support sports organizations in implementing safeguarding measures, the Croatian Olympic Committee will conduct an educational program titled Sport Safety Days – A Place Where Conversation Begins on May 14 and 15 as part of the For Safe Sport project. The focus will be especially on athletes involved in the Croatian Olympic Committee’s programs, who will receive materials to help them recognize risks and understand how to report inappropriate behavior.
The sessions, held at the Croatian Olympic Committee headquarters in Zagreb, will be tailored to different roles in sport – from athletes (May 14) to coaches (May 15) – ensuring that all participants gain the knowledge and tools necessary to create a safe sporting environment.
This positive campaign aims to raise awareness and educate all stakeholders on the protection of children and athletes in sports settings, while also addressing the protection of coaches from societal, parental, and club-level pressures.
Current and former elite athletes will significantly contribute to the project and education, including 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, and Andrea Ivančević Petrač.
Coaching support comes from Igor Čordaš (athletics), Mia Šimunić (water polo), Vladimir Mađarević (gymnastics), and many other distinguished guests, such as the Ombudsperson for Children Helenca Pirnat Dragičević, Chair of the Croatian Olympic Committee’s Gender Equality in Sport Commission Morana Paliković Gruden, Professor Igor Jukić, and psychologists Zrinka Greblo Jurakić and Ella Selak Bagarić.
The message from the education's title – A Place Where Conversation Begins – serves as a reminder that the first step toward change is not a law, regulation, or protocol. On the contrary, the first step is conversation – honest, safe, and well-facilitated conversation where everyone has the right to be heard.
This idea is also reflected in the project logo, which depicts a locked space being opened by a key – because safety begins where there is space for trust, for questions, and for support.
