The Montenegrin Olympic Committee (MOC) participated in the Mid-Term Conference of the SAFE HARBOUR project, held on 18 March 2026, which brought together key stakeholders from the European sports system, including National Olympic Committees, international and European sports federations, representatives of the European Union and the Council of Europe, as well as experts and community representatives working in the field of safeguarding in sport.
The conference focused on strengthening safeguarding mechanisms in sport, with particular attention given to translating existing research, standards and recommendations into concrete policies and operational practices at the national level.
As part of the panel titled “Translating evidence into policy and practice”, MOC representative Maja Peković spoke about the systemic approach to safeguarding in sport in Montenegro, emphasising that safeguarding is no longer an isolated policy but an integrated component of governance, education and athlete support.
It was highlighted that recent efforts have focused on adapting international standards, particularly the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee, into practical and applicable frameworks at the national level. This has included the adoption of a comprehensive safeguarding policy, alignment with the Code of Ethics, and the development of clear procedures for reporting and addressing safeguarding concerns.
Special emphasis was placed on the importance of moving from formal compliance to genuine implementation in practice, through continuous education, capacity building and the development of systems that enable the consistent application of safeguarding measures at all levels of sport.
During the discussion, it was noted that effective implementation of safeguarding policies depends primarily on people and systems, particularly through continuous training of safeguarding officers, strong institutional support, clear accountability mechanisms, and independent and transparent reporting procedures.
The conference reaffirmed the importance of cooperation between international and national organisations in building a safe sporting environment, as well as the need to further develop networks for support and knowledge exchange.
The participation of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee in this event represents another step in its ongoing efforts to strengthen the safeguarding system in sport and ensure a safe environment for all athletes.
