Presentation of i-Protect at the “Safeguarding Children in Sport” Conference in Hanaholmen, Finland #EU2019FI

The i-Protect Erasmus+ Project was presented in the “Safeguarding Children in Sport” Conference and we had a good representation of i-Protecters in the conference.

The Conference on Safe Sport discussed how children and young people can stay safe when engaging in sports and physical activity. It was attended by 120  sporting professionals, influencers and decision-makers at Hanaholmen Cultural Centre on 24 September.

How to ensure that as many children as possible can have a safe environment for playing sport and getting active? What are the risks associated with children and young people’s sports? What concrete means do sport policy and various sports actors have at their disposal to achieve a safer environment for sports?

Despite the numerous undisputed benefits of sport, children and young people do face risks when they engage in physical activity. The risks may range from being put under too much physical or mental strain to being exposed to bullying or sexual harassment.

The aim of the conference was to compare practices in different countries and to find ways to prevent both mental stress and physical injuries. The conference discussed children’s rights, the responsibilities of sports organisations and coaches, good governance and the prevention of abuse and harassment.

The promotion of safe sports for children and young people was discussed by Susan Greinig from the International Olympic Committee, Iris Hugo-Bouvier from UEFA, coach Jani Westerlund and researchers Sami Kokko (University  of Jyväskylä) and Aurelie van Hoye. In addition, the conference will present some successful international EU projects in this area (the i-Protect in Sport and the iCoachKids projects).

Minister of Science and Culture Hanna Kosonen and Commissioner Tibor Navracsics opened the conference.

i-Protect was selected among the Erasmus+ Porjects as a good practice project related to safeguarding children in sport.