The Council of Europe’s “Start to Talk” project has successfully concluded its implementation phase in Cyprus, marking a significant step forward in child safeguarding in sport. In close collaboration with the Cyprus Sport Organisation, the initiative aimed to embed the state’s child safeguarding legislative and policy framework across four pilot sports associations: football, gymnastics, swimming, and triathlon.

The project culminated with a final conference on “Implementing Child Safeguarding in Sport Policy at Federation Level”, held at the University of Nicosia on 27 February. The event showcased the achievements of the project, including the development of tailor-made child safeguarding policies and procedures for each participating association, as well as the creation of an evaluation tool to support ongoing implementation.

The initiative in Cyprus was supported by national consultant Maria Papaefstathiou, with valuable contributions from the Foni Council, UEFA, Aquatics Integrity Unit and Professor Melanie Lang, all of whom had also participated in the first roundtable held in Nicosia on 21 November 2026.

The successful implementation of the project in Cyprus was made possible thanks to a voluntary financial contribution from the Principality of Monaco.

 “Start to Talk” will continue its activities in other countries. The project assists national authorities and sports organisations in devising and applying robust child safeguarding measures, alongside facilitating training and awareness-raising activities. The project is managed by the Council of Europe’s Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS).

  Concept note and programme of the conference on “Implementing Child Safeguarding in Sport Policy at Federation Level”
 

Deliverables:

  Sport federations evaluation tool

  Child safeguarding policy and procedures of the Cyprus Football Federation (CFF): English | Greek

  Child safeguarding policy and procedures of the Cyprus Gymnastics Federation (CGF): English | Greek

  Child safeguarding policy and procedures of the Cyprus Swimming Federation (CSF): English | Greek

  Child safeguarding policy and procedures of the Cyprus Triathlon Federation (CTF): English | Greek