The Montenegrin Olympic Committee (MOC) announced that it has received a number of significant international recognitions that confirm its strategic commitment to building a safe and dignified sports environment.
"These awards are the result of the long-term and systematic work of the MOC leadership, led by President Dušan Simonović," they added in the statement.
They explained that after many years of active participation in the development of policies and frameworks for the protection of athletes, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) have appointed Maja Peković as a representative of all 206 National Olympic Committees in the IOC Safe Sport Core Group - a working body that will play a key role in creating global standards for protection in sport.
At the same time, Maja Peković continues to actively participate in the work of the ANOK Consultative Group for Strategic Planning, which makes Montenegro's voice heard in development processes at the highest level of Olympic governance.
"The EOC has already been recognized within the European Olympic Committees (EOC), an organization that two years ago initiated the development of the first comprehensive framework for the protection of athletes during European competitions. Maja Peković was elected president of the inter-commission working group that drafted the document, and the EOC Safeguarding Framework represents the basic standard that will be applied to all competitions under the auspices of the EOC. This is the first time that a representative of a smaller country has led such an important process within the European sports system," the statement reads.
At the national level, MOC is leading the development of a national framework for protection in sport in Montenegro, in cooperation with UNICEF and the Centre for the Promotion of Sport and Youth (CAMS). This process is establishing a model that will enable the sports community, namely federations, clubs, coaches, camps and schools, to recognize, prevent and respond adequately to any form of violence, neglect, discrimination or abuse in sport. This framework includes policies, education, reporting procedures, as well as the appointment of protection officers in sports organizations.
As a result of her regional engagement and the trust she enjoys in international structures, Peković has also been appointed as the Athlete Protection Coordinator of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG) for the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games. This is the first time that this regional multi-sport event has introduced an institutionalized participant protection mechanism, and Montenegro is given a key role in its implementation.
The President of the MOC, Dušan Simonović, emphasized the importance of these awards:
"This is confirmation that the Montenegrin Olympic Committee, although a small National Olympic Committee, can be a leader and example in areas that are essential for the future of sport. The issue of protecting athletes, especially the youngest and most vulnerable, is one of the fundamental issues of sports integrity, and we will continue to build a system that protects and improves this."
These international recognitions are the result of the dedicated work of the entire MOC team in the previous period, strategic partnerships with international organizations and consistent implementation of the principles of good governance in Montenegrin sports, MOC emphasized.
"The Montenegrin Olympic Committee will continue to invest efforts in improving the protection system, strengthening sports organizations and educating all sports stakeholders," they conclude in the statement.
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