General information
Name of the project: Building European Safe Sport Together – BESST
Type of project: Collaborative partnership
Duration of the project: 24 months (January 2023 – December 2024)
Funded by: Erasmus+ Programme
Contact: info@eoaolympic.org
Project description
Building European Safe Sport Together is a project that aims to deliver the foundation for a harassment and abuse-free European Sports environment. With strong partners delivering the academic support, continent-wide network of organizations for dissemination, legal and project management, events delivery and sports organizations, the project has a full circle range of professionals with four key deliveries that will effectively raise the maturity of the European sports on its safeguarding readiness:
- Definition of Abuse and Harassment:
To develop a single definition of abuse and harassment and unifying speech and debate on the subject throughout Europe by considering current documents and academic literature on the topic. - Legal Framework for Sports Organisations
To develop a safeguarding legal framework for European sports organisations, namely National Olympic Committees, National Federations, and Clubs. - Awareness & Education Toolkit
To create a toolkit for sports safeguarding awareness and education based on digital means (with an emphasis on social media) to be used by all European sports organisations of various levels and resources. - Legal Framework for Sports Events
To develop a safeguarding legal framework for European sports event organisers.
The two-year project, with a very consistent dissemination process, will be able to provide effective change in terms of safeguarding for the continent based on the horizontal value of digitalization – together with inclusion through the dissemination across a wide range of European countries with different languages, cultures, economic performances and sporting realities.
Project-related news
BESST safeguarding framework in action at Bakuriani 2025
The BESST project is thrilled to announce that the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival Bakuriani 2025 has agreed to implement the BESST Sports Events Legal Framework. The coordinating organisation EOA,…
Athletes’ Perspectives on Safe Sport – Forum Highlights
During a recent online forum, Athletes’ Perspectives on Safe Sport, prominent athletes shared their personal stories and insights on tackling transgressive behaviour and ensuring safe sport practices. The forum provided…
BESST Project outcomes presented at European Sport Business School in Valencia and Madrid campuses and Sport Management School in Lausanne
Daniela Negreda, Advisor and Business Strategist at IGNTIX, recently led a series of impactful safeguarding sessions on latest outcomes of the BESST project at the European Sport Business School (ESBS)…
Invitation to join BESST Online Forum: Athletes’ Perspectives on Safe Sport – 10.12.2024
On behalf of the Building European Safe Sport Together (BESST) project partners, it is our pleasure to invite you to join the BESST Online Forum: Athletes’ Perspectives on Safe Sport….
Daniela Negreda Amplifies BESST Impact in iWorkinSport Youtube Live Event
In a dynamic episode of the iWorkinSport YouTube series, Daniela Negreda, Advisor and Business Strategist at IGNITX, delivered a powerful live interview that spotlighted the latest outcomes of the BESST…
Key Findings Reveal European Sports Organisations Are in Early Development Stage in Safeguarding Readiness
Research conducted by the Building European Safe Sport Together (BESST) project indicates that the majority of European sports organisations are still in the infancy stage of safeguarding readiness. These findings…
Project Consortium
European Olympic Academies (Coordinator)

The European Olympic Academies (EOA) is the association of National Olympic Academies (NOAs) in Europe with the mission to disseminate the Olympic Idea and Values. The organisation aims to facilitate collaboration and exchange of experience between the NOAs and other stakeholders, promote the Olympic Movement through own initiatives and to provide platforms for discussion by holding conferences and seminars.
IGNITX

IGNITX is an international team of passionate Games experts providing specialised consultancy services in combination with active and integrated support of project delivery.The team is formed by event professionals called IGNITERS who are experienced, knowledgeable and capable experts that have successfully delivered a wide range of sport events. They operated under two main Focus Streams, Event Management and Safeguarding. The multifaceted perspective services offered include consulting, operations and education. IGNITX’s uniqueness are the respected in the field team, its industry leadership in innovative solutions and the adaptable projects with commitment to excellence for all types and sizes of organisations.
Windesheim University of Applied Sciences

Windesheim is a Dutch University of Applied Sciences actively contributing to an inclusive and sustainable society by educating valuable professionals and conducting practice-based research. The professorship Sports Pedagogy focuses on research, education and activities contributing to sustainable safe sports by the guidance of competent individuals in sports at all levels. In the field of sports pedagogy, this professorship aims to conduct applied research to contribute to (applied) knowledge about behaviour and create dialogue about (un)desirable behaviour within (elite) sports and education and empowerment of (elite) athletes and Physical Education-students.
Rudi Hiti Academy

The Rudi Hiti Academy, established in 2013, is a Slovenian club that aims to popularize ice hockey among children and young adults. They provide free training sessions and equipment to make the sport accessible to all, regardless of their background. The Academy collaborates with the Slovenian Hockey Federation, conducts international summer camps, and emphasizes coach training while implementing projects that promote physical activity, inclusion, gender equality, skill development, and combating harassment and abuse in sports.
UEFA Foundation for Children

The UEFA Foundation for Children adds incomparable value to the project, considering their respect, but also knowledge applied in its almost 100 projects applied in Europe and around the world. UEFA Foundation has a deep knowledge that is fundamental for building and reviewing the BESST project proposals, and has a strategic reach within Europe, being able to reach hundreds of members clubs within Europe deeply. The foundation has child safeguarding as one of its key priorities, having already applied different projects in this field.
National Olympic Committee of the Netherlands

The NOC*NSF is one of the world’s leading countries in establishing a solid, multi-level and operational national safe sport policy. Together with the US Center for Safe Sport, they likely have the most robust financed structures today tackling harassment and abuse in sports. NOC*NSF will share their learnings, positives and cons for the development of the proposed system for European sports, with an internal player serving as a benchmark, and help build a system based on their learning in practice.
National Olympic Committee of Slovenia

The National Olympic Committee of Slovenia promotes sports at the national level, supporting athletes, organizing sporting events, and advocating for a healthy and active lifestyle and the values of sport and Olympism. Through their dedication, the NOC plays a vital role in shaping Slovenia’s sports landscape, empowering athletes, fostering participation, and contributing to the overall well-being of the Slovenian sports community.