Raibuliavimas (making ripples): student-athletes action safe sport in Lithuania

Abstract

Athlete voice is fundamental to good governance; however, sports organisations have been slow to involve young people in safe sport initiatives. In Lithuania, the location of this study, athlete welfare issues are rarely discussed, and the development of a safe sport environment is new to the policy agenda. This project aimed to empower a cohort of student-athletes to promote good practice and safe sport in Lithuania. A secondary aim was to understand the content areas that young athletes prioritised in promoting safe sport. 17 Lithuanian university student-athletes worked in small groups to identify a safe sport issue that was relevant in their country and created awareness-raising poster campaigns to start conversations about it. Focus group interviews were conducted with participants who highlighted the need to challenge "taken-for-granted" ideas about athlete welfare and the importance of involving young athletes in advancing the welfare and safe sport agendas. Keywords: Athlete voice, Athlete welfare, safe sport, Lithuania, youth participation