SAFE SPORT – Cybersecurity for Women Athletes is an Erasmus+ Sport co-funded initiative that aims to strengthen digital safety and cybersecurity awareness among women in sport. The project responds to the growing online threats faced by female athletes — including cyberbullying, identity theft, online harassment, and digital exploitation — and seeks to ensure that sport remains a safe and empowering space in both the physical and digital realms.

Objectives

SAFE SPORT focuses on four key objectives:

1. Empowering women athletes with digital skills and knowledge to protect themselves online and to build resilience against cyberbullying and digital abuse.
2. Training coaches and educators to deliver sport-based cybersecurity and digital literacy sessions adapted to the needs of young female athletes.
3. Developing educational tools and materials that combine sport-for-education methodologies with cybersecurity learning.
4. Strengthening the capacities of sport organizations to adopt structured cybersecurity policies and good governance practices in digital safety.

Main Activities

The project is implemented in Bulgaria, Estonia, North Macedonia, and Serbia, combining the expertise of sport professionals and cybersecurity specialists. Activities include research and needs assessment, creation of learning resources, capacity-building workshops, and awareness campaigns promoting digital protection in sport.

Outputs and Deliverables

By the end of the project, SAFE SPORT will deliver several tangible and transferable results:

• Cybersecurity Toolkit for Women in Sport – a practical, multilingual resource with sport-based digital safety sessions, providing tools and real-life strategies to prevent and respond to cyber threats.
• Training of Trainers Programme – preparation of 12 trainers equipped to deliver the SAFE SPORT methodology and replicate the training at national and grassroots levels.
• Socio-sport sessions – more than 300 young female athletes aged 15–20 will participate in interactive sport and digital safety workshops designed to boost awareness, confidence, and resilience.
• Exchange and Reflection Event – an international in-person meeting for trainers and educators to share experiences and best practices after the pilot phase.
• Final Advocacy and Dissemination Event – a European-level event promoting the integration of cybersecurity education in sport and addressing online violence prevention.

Impact

SAFE SPORT contributes to the EU’s digital transformation and gender equality priorities by introducing innovative cybersecurity practices into the sports sector. The project aligns with the EU Directive on Combating Violence Against Women (2024), the Cyber Resilience Act (2024), and the NIS2 Directive on Cybersecurity, transforming these policy goals into practical action in the daily lives of athletes.

Through education, awareness, and cooperation, the project empowers women to navigate digital spaces safely, builds the capacity of sport organizations to respond to online threats, and creates a supportive environment where every woman can train, compete, and communicate without fear of digital abuse.