From Policy to Culture: Safeguarding Takes Centre Stage at the MOVE Congress
Date: 30 october 2025
Photo: Tine presenting at MOVE congress
On 30th of October 2025, Tine had the privilege of delivering a keynote on safeguarding in sport at the MOVE Congress in Copenhagen, hosted by the International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA). It was her first time attending, and she left genuinely impressed by the energy, professionalism, and shared purpose that ran through every session.
Tine shares her reflections and key messages from the keynote presentation here:
The congress brought together 899 participants from 92 countries, representing community clubs, municipalities, NGOs, and umbrella federations, all committed to making grassroots sport safer, more inclusive, and more sustainable.
Safeguarding: A Shared Responsibility
My keynote focused on a simple but powerful message: safeguarding is a culture, not a checklist. We often think of safeguarding as a set of documents or procedures. But true protection happens in the daily culture of sport, in how coaches speak, how teammates listen, and how organisations respond when someone has a concern.
To bring this message to life, we used interactive polls throughout the session. The results offered both insight and motivation:
- Only one in three organisations reported having a comprehensive safeguarding policy in place.
- Another third said their policy could be improved.
- And a final third was unsure or had no policy yet.
These figures are not unusual. They reflect where grassroots sport finds itself today — aware of the importance of safeguarding, but still on the journey from awareness to action.
These figures are not unusual. They reflect where grassroots sport finds itself today — aware of the importance of safeguarding, but still on the journey from awareness to action.
Small Steps, Big Change
What stood out most, however, was the forward-looking energy in the room.
When asked what their next step would be, participants committed to concrete, achievable actions: from scheduling safeguarding training and improving reporting mechanisms to discussing psychological safety with their teams or simply checking in on a young athlete’s wellbeing.
Each of these small, consistent steps matters. As I told the audience, cultural change doesn’t start with a new set of rules. It starts with insight, commitment, and everyday behaviour.
A Global Movement for Safe Sport
Across the world, the understanding of safeguarding in sport is evolving.
Grassroots organisations are beginning to see that wellbeing and performance go hand in hand.
International initiatives, from the Council of Europe’s Start to Talk campaign to the IOC’s Safeguarding Essentials, are helping clubs and federations build capacity and confidence.
And as more practitioners engage in dialogue, training, and peer learning, a shared language of safe sport is taking shape.
Looking Ahead
The MOVE Congress reminded me how much potential exists in this community. When 899 people from 92 countries all agree that safety and wellbeing belong at the heart of sport, change is already underway.