Our Partners
Collaborating to advance safe sport worldwide.
Safe Sport 2026 is built through global collaboration — bringing together organisations leading work in safeguarding, sport development, research and policy.
Global Voices. Shared Solutions.
Safe Sport 2026 is delivered through collaboration between organisations working at the forefront of sport development, safeguarding, research and policy.
The conference is led by Safe Sport International (SSI), the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) and the Sport for Social Change Network Africa (SSCN), and hosted by the University of Cape Town (UCT). Together, these partners bring complementary expertise spanning global leadership, continental coordination, grassroots practice and academic insight.
This collaboration ensures the conference reflects a balance of international expertise and regional leadership, with a strong emphasis on African perspectives and locally grounded approaches, supporting meaningful dialogue and practical outcomes that strengthen safeguarding across sport systems worldwide.
Meet the organising partners
African Union Sports Council (AUSC)
The African Union Sports Council (AUSC) plays a central role in advancing sport development across the continent, working with Member States to strengthen systems that support participation, performance and governance.
Through its leadership on safeguarding, AUSC is supporting the integration of protection frameworks within national sport structures, helping to ensure that sport environments across Africa are safe, inclusive and responsive to local contexts. Its work reflects a commitment to building sustainable, locally owned safeguarding systems that align with both regional priorities and global standards.
The Sport for Social Change Network Africa (SSCN)
The Sport for Social Change Network Africa (SSCN) brings together organisations across the continent using sport as a platform for social development, safeguarding and community impact.
Its work connects practice, advocacy and lived experience, supporting organisations working at grassroots level to embed safeguarding within their programmes and environments. By amplifying local voices and strengthening collaboration, SSCN plays an important role in ensuring that safeguarding approaches are practical, inclusive and grounded in real-world contexts.
University of Cape Town (UCT) – Host
The University of Cape Town (UCT) is one of Africa’s leading academic institutions and provides the host setting for Safe Sport 2026.
UCT supports the intersection of research, education and practice, creating an environment where global perspectives and local expertise can come together. As host, the university plays a key role in facilitating dialogue, knowledge exchange and critical reflection, helping to connect academic insight with the practical challenges and opportunities of safeguarding in sport.
Safe Sport International (SSI)
Safe Sport International (SSI) leads the global movement to advance safeguarding in sport, bringing together practitioners, researchers, policymakers and athletes to strengthen protection systems worldwide.
Through its work, SSI supports the development of evidence-informed practice, international collaboration and capacity building, helping organisations move from policy to implementation. Safe Sport 2026 is part of this wider mission — creating a platform for shared learning, global dialogue and the continued advancement of safer sport systems.
A shared commitment to make sport safer.
Safe Sport 2026 is shaped by the organisations working to advance safeguarding across sport systems globally. Together, these partnerships reflect a shared commitment to creating safer, more inclusive and more accountable sport environments.