Symposium Safe Sport

Discover the program


3 October 2023

Taking the next step in your safe sport policy - in collaboration with Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique

9h00 - 9h15

Opening Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique

Donatella Sacchi - President of FIG Safeguarding Commission


9h15 - 9h30

Opening Belgian Gymnastics Federation

Ilse Arys - CEO of Belgium Gymnastics Federation


9h30 - 10h00

Application of safe sport research (including Q&A)

Tine Vertommen (BEL) - Researcher at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Belgium and external consultant to the Safe Sport Unit at the International Olympic Committee (IOC)


10h00 - 10h45

The voice of the gymnasts (including Q&A)

Catalina Ponor (ROU) - FIG WAG Athletes representative, Member of FIG Athlete Commission - TO BE CONFIRMED

Elsa Garcia (MEX) - WAG Gymnast, Member of FIG Safeguarding Working Group

Artur Mariano (BRA) - MAG Gymnast


10h45 - 11h15

Coffee break


11h15 - 12h00

The voice of the coaches (including Q&A)

Ulla Koch (GER) - National Head Coach of the German team since 2005, IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020

Hiroaki Sato (JPN) - Men's Artistic Gymnastics National Coach of Japan, FIG Education Commission member, Former Personal Coach of Kohei Uchimara


12h00 - 12h45

The voice of National Federations (including Q&A)

Mario Vukoja (CRO) - Vice President of Croatia Gymnastics Federation

Karen Norden (SGP) - General Manager at Singapore Gymnastics

Lorena Villareal (CRC) - President of the Costa Rican Gymnastics Federation


12h45 - 14h00

Lunch break


14h00 - 15h00


Green + blue room




Red room




Orange room

Workshop 1


1A - First steps on Safeguarding in the National Federation - LIVESTREAM

Mario Vukoja (CRO) - Vice President of Croatia Gymnastics Federation


1B - Best practices for national federation's Safeguarding Officers - RECORDED

Kacey Neely (CAN) - Safe Sport Director in Canada Gymnastics


1C - Safe Sport Allies: See something? Do something! - ONLY LIVE

An De Kock (BEL) - Centre for Ethics in Sports

Tine Vertommen (BEL) - Researcher at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences


15h15 - 16h15


Green + blue

room


Red room




Orange room

Workshop 2


2A - Awareness campaigns - LIVESTREAM

Lili Leung (USA) - CEO USA Gymnastics


2B - The importance of culture in high performance sports - RECORDED

Dave Hart (GBR) - Performance Director in British Gymnastics


2C - "A policy must speak to its stakeholders" - How to involve your stakeholders in your safe sports journey? - ONLY LIVE

Annabel Timmins (GBR) - Safeguarding in Sport Manager LimeCulture


16h15 - 16h20

Overview of the day


16h20 - 16h30

Closing words FIG


4 October 2023

Mental health in high performance sport - in collaboration with Sport Vlaanderen

9h00 - 9h30

A word of welcome


9h30 - 10h30

Panel discussion - Elite sport and psychology: Opportunities and challenges
​Paul Wylleman - Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

Chris Harwood - Nottingham Trent University, Great Britain

Heinrich Grobbelaar - Stellenbosch University, South-Africa

Hafrun Kristjánsdóttir - National Olympic and Sports Assocation, Iceland

Kuniko Sekiguchi - Japan Institute of Sports Sciences, Japan

Aagje Vanwalleghem - Former elite gymnast, Belgium


11h00 - 12h00


Red room





Yellow room





Orange room

Session A

The role of psychology in developing talented athletes

Chris Harwood - Nottingham Trent University, Great Britain

Jolan Kegelaers - Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium


Session B

The mental health and wellbeing of coaches
​Heinrich Grobbelaar - Stellenbosch University, South-Africa

Jef Brouwers - TICkA, Belgium
​

Session C

The multi-/interdisciplinary support team and the role of the psychologist
​Hafrun Kristjánsdóttir - National Olympic and Sports Association, Iceland

Ruben Neyens - Gymfed, Belgium


12h00 - 13h00

Lunch buffet


13h00 - 14h00


Red room




Orange room






Yellow room

Session A

Mental health issues and psychological challenges: From injuries to weight management
​Kuniko Sekiguchi - Japan Institute of Sports Sciences, Japan

Jean Colinet - Capsport, Belgium


Session B

The multi-/interdisciplinary support team and the role of the psychologist
​Hafrun Kristjánsdóttir - National Olympic and Sports Association, Iceland

Ruben Neyens - Gymfed, Belgium


Session C

The mental health and wellbeing of coaches
​Heinrich Grobbelaar - Stellenbosch University, South-Africa

Jef Brouwers - TICkA, Belgium


14h15 - 15h15


Orange room



Red room







Yellow room

Session A

The multi-/interdisciplinary support team and the role of the psychologist

Hafrun Kristjánsdóttir - National Olympic and Sports Association, Iceland

Ruben Neyens - Gymfed, Belgium


Session B

Mental health issues and psychological challenges: From injuries to weight management
​Kuniko Sekiguchi - Japan Institute of Sports Sciences, Japan

Jean Colinet - Capsport, Belgium


Session C

The role of psychology in developing talented athletes
​Chris Harwood - Nottingham Trent University, Great Britain

Jolan Kegelaers - Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium


15h30 - 15h50

Reflections and lessons learned
​Paul Wylleman - Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

Jon Strubbe - Sport Vlaanderen, Belgium


15h50 - 16h00

Closing remarks

Paul Rowe - Sport Vlaanderen, Belgium



Ready to take a leading role in driving positive changes in the sport?





Practical information

When?

  • Tuesday 3 October - Taking the next step in your safe sport policy
  • Wednesday 4 October - Wellbeing in high performance sport

Where?

Meeting Centre (1st floor) Antwerp Expo
​Jan Van Rijswijcklaan 191 - 2020 Antwerp - Belgium
​


Be part of it!

This symposium – which will be held on the same event site as the training halls, but separate from the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships – is open to all stakeholders in Gymnastics and sport willing to promote this necessary cultural switch.