Pioneering Safeguarding Measures at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships
For the first time in the history of the European Athletics Championships, a robust safeguarding framework will be in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all participants in Rome.
The event, taking place between 7-12 June 2024, will feature dedicated safeguarding officers from both European Athletics and the Local Organising Committee (LOC).
This will add an extra level of support to and from the LOC Safeguarding staff and structures at the continent’s biggest athletics competition.
In addition, there will be an increased visibility of information regarding the importance of safeguarding at Roma 2024, demonstrating the commitment to a safe environment for all people at the event.
A safe and welcoming environment
Safeguarding refers to actions taken to promote individual welfare and provide protection from harassment and abuse.
Creating a safe and welcoming environment, where everyone is respected and valued, is at the heart of safeguarding. Everyone involved with athletics has a role to play in creating this environment at Roma 2024.
Anything which causes an individual to be worried about their safety or that another individual is potentially a safeguarding concern and the European Athletics and the LOC Safeguarding Officers will be on site to guide and assist.
Promoting Awareness
European Athletics and the LOC Safeguarding Officers at Roma 2024 will be responsible for providing support and assistance to participants who have safeguarding concerns before and during the event.
They will be a point of contact for reporting safeguarding concerns and liaise with relevant authorities and organisations to address safeguarding issues as well as promoting awareness of safeguarding policies and procedures among event staff, volunteers, and participants.
Their role at Roma 2024 is to implement the relevant safeguarding policies and procedures deployed in accordance with European Athletics guidelines and international standards.
The European Athletics Safeguarding Officer will provide guidance and support to the LOC Safeguarding Officer and the wider LOC on safeguarding matters.
This includes monitoring and evaluating safeguarding practices to ensure compliance and effectiveness and investigating and addressing any safeguarding concerns at a higher organisational level.
Wide communication
All Team Leaders will be briefed on safeguarding at Roma 2024 ahead of the event on 6 June and individually to teams members throughout the event.
Communications on the Safeguarding Programme in Rome 2024 will not be exclusively to the teams, but to all the involved stakeholders and in the various different official venues with Race for Respect as a motto.
The European Athletics Safeguarding Officer will also be present at the Future Leaders Forum taking place during the European Athletics Championships and will provide guidance and information on the topic of safeguarding to all attendees.
A safe sport
European Athletics is committed to provide a safe environment to everyone involved in the event, making it free from any form of harassment, abuse and exploitation. European Athletics also calls for everyone together to champion a culture of safety and respect, ensuring that every participant feels valued and protected throughout the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships.
The enhanced emphasis on safeguarding underlines the undertaking in the European Athletics Strategic Roadmap 2024-2027 to "secure a safe environment for all European Athletics family members (including guests, staff, officials, volunteers) and with a focus on athletes."