Български
RISE
BSDA held a series of trainings and a round table under the RISE project
08.04.2026
Between March 15 and April 7, 2026, in Sofia, Bulgaria, Bulgarian sports development association (BSDA) – a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing Bulgarian sport and improving sports culture nationwide – successfully carried out a series of national training sessions and a round table discussion as part of the “RISE – Empowered Above Sexual Violence” project, which is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.
As part of the initiative, a total of eight training sessions were delivered – four for athletes and four for sports professionals and experts – bringing together more than 120 participants from across the sports sector. The main goal of the trainings was to increase awareness and strengthen participants’ capacity to prevent and respond appropriately to cases of sexual violence in sport.
The training sessions were held as follows:
For athletes: March 16, 26, 27, and April 6, 2026
For sports professionals and experts: March 17, 18, 19, and 20, 2026
On April 7, 2026, a round table discussion titled “Effective strategies and actions preventing sexual violence in sports” was also held, with the participation of 22 sports professionals and experts. The event provided a platform for sharing experiences, exchanging best practices, and discussing effective policies for preventing violence in sport.
These activities build on the international “Train-the-Trainers” seminar held in the period October 23–26, 2025, in Athens, Greece. Representatives from BSDA took part alongside sports professionals from Austria, Italy, Spain, and Cyprus. The training, organized by the American College of Greece and A.S. Altis, equipped participants with practical tools and knowledge for preventing and responding to sexual violence, which were later adapted and applied at the national level in Bulgaria.
The “RISE – Empowered Above Sexual Violence” project aims to address the issue of sexual violence in sport by developing policies, guidelines, and training resources that support the creation of a safe, inclusive, and protected sporting environment for all participants.
BSDA continues to work actively to promote zero tolerance toward violence in sport and to foster a sustainable culture of respect, safety, and support within the sporting community.
The training sessions were held as follows:
For athletes: March 16, 26, 27, and April 6, 2026
For sports professionals and experts: March 17, 18, 19, and 20, 2026
On April 7, 2026, a round table discussion titled “Effective strategies and actions preventing sexual violence in sports” was also held, with the participation of 22 sports professionals and experts. The event provided a platform for sharing experiences, exchanging best practices, and discussing effective policies for preventing violence in sport.
These activities build on the international “Train-the-Trainers” seminar held in the period October 23–26, 2025, in Athens, Greece. Representatives from BSDA took part alongside sports professionals from Austria, Italy, Spain, and Cyprus. The training, organized by the American College of Greece and A.S. Altis, equipped participants with practical tools and knowledge for preventing and responding to sexual violence, which were later adapted and applied at the national level in Bulgaria.
The “RISE – Empowered Above Sexual Violence” project aims to address the issue of sexual violence in sport by developing policies, guidelines, and training resources that support the creation of a safe, inclusive, and protected sporting environment for all participants.
BSDA continues to work actively to promote zero tolerance toward violence in sport and to foster a sustainable culture of respect, safety, and support within the sporting community.
