On 21 March 2025, the joint European Union - Council of Europe project “Balance S4: Strengthening the Safety and Service pillars of the Saint-Denis Convention” is organising a Training of Trainers session on Safety at sports events in Athens, Greece. The training takes place at the O.A.K.A Indoor Basketball Arena in the Olympic area of Athens, home of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens Basketball Club.

Organising the training in a sports venue allows to simulate the conditions to develop effective international, national and local partnerships in order to prepare and deliver the Saint-Denis Convention integrated and balanced multi-agency approach to safety, security and service at sports events, outlining the importance of human rights and fundamental values in sport. In addition to the hands-on training by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority, participants will observe the safety management and operation during the EuroLeague game Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs ALBA Berlin.

The Training of Trainers programme, designed for State Parties and Observers to the Saint-Denis Convention, contributes to create safe, inclusive and respectful environments at sports events. By focusing on safety management, dynamic risk assessment, balance between the physical infrastructure of a stadium/arena and the safety management processes involved, as well as on the collaborative efforts in the vicinity of a stadium/arena to ensure fans are safe in the Zone Ex, the programme seeks to ensure that sports venues are welcoming to all individuals, regardless of their backgrounds or disabilities.​

Through interactive group exercises and discussions, participants will be equipped with a suite of resources and tools to facilitate training sessions in their respective countries. The primary goal is to empower attendees to become proficient trainers, capable of imparting essential safety principles and measures at sports events to peers and relevant stakeholders.

The Training of Trainers programme enhances safety at sports events but also plays a pivotal role in fostering environments free from racism and discrimination, embodying the core message of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, observed annually on 21 March.

  Programme of the Training of Trainers

  Learn more about the Training content

For a broader understanding of the Saint-Denis Convention and its integrated approach to safety, security, and service at sports events, the following resources are recommended:​

  Discover the Saint-Denis Convention through an Online Course: This module offers insights into the history and events leading to the Council of Europe Conventions on security at sporting events.