The president of ACOLOP, Filomena Fortes, emphasised the organisation’s commitment to protecting athletes, taking part in the opening of the conference and the presentation of certificates to the clubs that had completed the SAFE COMBAT certification process.
ACOLOP – the Association of Olympic Committees of Portuguese-Speaking Countries – took part in the final conference of the European project SAFE COMBAT, held in Portimão, Portugal, from 22 to 25 October, represented by its chair, Filomena Fortes, and its executive secretary, Leonardo Cunha.
Funded by the Erasmus+ programme, the SAFE COMBAT project promotes the protection of athletes (safeguarding) and the creation of safe sporting environments, through cooperation between sports organisations, academic institutions and experts.
In her capacity as president of ACOLOP, Filomena Fortes opened the conference and took part in the presentation of certificates to the Portuguese clubs that had successfully completed the SAFE COMBAT certification process, marking an important step in the implementation of protective measures within the sporting context.
The event was also attended by representatives from the European Judo Union, researchers from the Faculty of Human Kinetics in Lisbon, safeguarding specialists and leading figures from the world of international sport, including Olympic judo champion Haruka Tashimoto.
One of the key moments was the discussion on the responsibility of sports organisations, the role of coaches and the importance of preventing abuse and violence, whilst ensuring the well-being and dignity of athletes.
ACOLOP’s participation reinforces its commitment to promoting best practice, international cooperation and the development of a safer, more inclusive and more responsible sport in Portuguese-speaking countries.
On 26 October, the approval of the project’s final report was also confirmed, marking the successful completion of the SAFE COMBAT activities.
