The American College of Greece Research Centre (ACG-RC) will be hosting a critical three-day workshop this week, part of the RISE project, bringing together sports experts from across Europe in Greece to address sexual violence in athletics.
What RISE Means for the Future of Sports Safety
The ‘RISE: Rise Empowered Above Sexual Violence in Sports’ project represents a collaborative European effort to confront an issue that has remained in the shadows for too long. Coordinated by the Social Policy and Action Organization (SPAO) in Cyprus and co-funded by Erasmus+, this multi-national project brings together expertise from Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Cyprus. The ACG-RC participates from Greece through its Center of Excellence in Food, Tourism & Leisure (CoEFTL).
The project runs from 2024 to 2026, and its mission is clear: develop practical tools, educational materials, and digital resources that empower sports stakeholders to prevent sexual violence and protect young athletes.
Sports should be spaces of growth, achievement, and empowerment. Yet for too many athletes, particularly young people, these environments can harbor risks that go unaddressed. The RISE project acknowledges this reality without sensationalism, recognizing that meaningful change requires education, resources, and committed individuals willing to lead that change.
Train-the-Trainers Workshop
This three-day transnational workshop was successfully hosted this past September in Cyprus by SPAO. This October, ACG-RC brings the Train-the-Trainers workshop to Greece.
The workshop will equip sport experts (those already involved in athlete education, health, safety, and wellbeing) with comprehensive knowledge of the six-module curriculum specifically designed for athletes. These participants will then return to their home countries prepared to lead national workshops, creating a ripple effect of awareness and protection across European sports communities.
Participants will engage with the full scope of materials developed throughout the RISE project, including:
- Research findings and conclusions on sexual violence in sports contexts
- The Protocol on “Identification, Reporting and Support to Victims of Sexual Violence in Sports” providing clear procedures for recognition and response
- The Guide with Standards of Conduct and Codes of Behaviours within Sport Contexts establishing professional boundaries and expectations
- The Handbook on “How to Create a Safe and Healthy Sport Environment Which Values Athletes as Human Beings” offering practical strategies for organizational culture change
- The Booklet for Young Athletes with “Step-by-Step Guidelines: What to do in Case You Experience Sexual Violence in Sports” empowering athletes with actionable information
- Practical tools, video resources & real-life scenarios and practical approaches
- Interactive training methods designed to facilitate difficult but necessary conversations
The workshop is about building confidence and competence in addressing these sensitive issues with athletes. Tatiana Chalkidou, CoEFTL member and scientific lead of RISE on the side of ACG-RC, is responsible for the organization. CoEFTL’s Assistant Director Maria Vrasida will deliver one of the six modules on Saturday, October 25.
Participant Profile
The workshop addresses sport professionals who work directly with athletes on matters of health, safety, and wellbeing. By participating in this workshop, attendees become part of a European network dedicated to ensuring that protective measures aren’t just theoretical but actively implemented in sports settings across the continent.
Three people, sports experts and professionals in sports, are offered the opportunity from each project partner to participate, creating a diverse, international learning environment where experiences and perspectives can be shared across borders and sporting contexts.
The workshop is conducted in English, with all travel, accommodation, and meals fully covered.
For more information, contact Social Policy and Action Organization (SPAO) at +357 97 894419 or [email protected].
What: RISE Transnational Train-the-Trainers Workshop on Sexual Violence Prevention in Sports
Where: Athens, Greece
When: October 23–26, 2025
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For more information about the RISE project, please visit the
