Albania kicks off with first national event

The first national event of the Safer Grassroots Sport project took place in Tirana, hosted at the premises of the National Olympic Committee of Albania. This milestone marks the beginning of a series of four national events across participating countries, all aimed at strengthening the safety and protection of children, youth, and athletes in grassroots sport.
The event highlighted the project’s mission to promote standards and good practices that help sports clubs building safer, more inclusive environments.
The opening remarks were delivered by Mr. Fidel Ylli, President of the National Olympic Committee of Albania, who emphasized the importance of fostering a culture of safety in sport, stating that “sport must always be a protected, educational, and inspiring environment for our children.”
The event gathered representatives from four Albanian sport clubs—Teuta Multi-Sport Club (Durrës), Flamurtari Sports Club (Vlorë)—the only club in Albania currently equipped with a Safeguarding Officer—Flamurtari Sports Club (Fier), and the Pogradec Sports Association. Each club shared its experiences, challenges, and recent strategies related to safety and child protection in sport.
The event attracted strong interest from sport federations, coaches, local authorities, and civil society organisations, reflecting the growing commitment to ensuring a secure and positive sporting environment for all.
Watch the video recap here!
The second national event will be hosted by the National Olympic Comiittee of Portugal, next Thursday, 16th of October.