The Montenegrin Olympic Committee, in cooperation with partners from France, Spain and Montenegro, launched the ExerSafe project, which aims to create safe, gender-sensitive and supportive environments for exercise and sports, especially for girls and women. This project is implemented with the support of the Erasmus+ program of the European Union, and its duration is planned for a period of two years.
ExerSafe was designed as a response to the increasing barriers that women face when it comes to participating in physical activity. According to the latest European data, more than 60% of women do not meet the minimum recommendations for physical activity, while as many as 71% of them state that they felt disturbed, watched or uncomfortable in gyms and sports facilities. At the same time, most sports spaces, including gyms, still function as spaces that are not designed in relation to the needs of women, but are often perceived as “men’s” spaces.
The ExerSafe project is based on a combination of research, education and concrete action. During the first phase, an analysis of the needs and experiences of women who use sports facilities will be carried out, while in subsequent phases, the creation of online education for trainers, owners and managers of clubs and fitness centers will follow. In parallel, guidelines for creating gender-equal and safe sports environments will be developed, and special educational and training sessions are planned to be held in fitness centers and clubs, with the aim of increasing women’s self-confidence and encouraging positive social interaction.
The coordinator of the project, Maja Peković from the Montenegrin Olympic Committee, pointed out that this is an opportunity to make a concrete step forward in the creation of sports spaces where every woman will feel safe, respected and welcome. The project addresses gym owners, sports club management, coaches, sportsmen and women, but also local authorities, parents and decision makers.
The consortium of partners, coordinated by the Montenegrin Olympic Committee, consists of Sport et Citoyenneté from France, Sport Innovation Hub from Spain, and the organization Healthy Life CF (City Fitness) from Nikšić. The project directly relies on the priorities of the European Union in the field of sports, health and gender equality, as well as on the recommendations of the 2021 CARE report on gender-based violence in sports.
