Nagaland Olympic Association holds safeguarding workshop for athletes

More than 120 representatives of sports associations, government officials and people working on the Nagaland State and Para Games 2026 attended a workshop on safeguarding in sport at the Games Village in Chümoukedima on Sunday, November 8, Eastern Mirror reported, citing a press release from the Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA).

The session, held at the Hokato Hotozhe Auditorium, focused on preventing harassment, abuse, discrimination and exploitation in sport. It also covered the need for clear ways to report safeguarding concerns and to hold institutions accountable when they arise.

Who led the sessions

NOA Secretary General Abu Metha, who is also an Adviser to the Chief Minister, gave the welcome address. The workshop was run by two resource persons: Neetal Narang, a sports administrator and safeguarding advocate, and Shailaja Rajan Raj, a human resources and organisational development consultant.

Narang has worked on safeguarding in sports administration at the national level. She represented India at the Olympic Council of Asia's safeguarding workshop in Bangkok in 2025 after being nominated by the Indian Olympic Association, and handled safeguarding duties at the 2025 National Games in Uttarakhand. Rajan Raj, who has more than 25 years of experience in organisational development and leadership training, spoke on workplace safety, prevention of sexual harassment, emotional well-being and organisational management.

Why safeguarding matters

Safeguarding refers to the policies and practices that protect athletes, especially children and young people, from harm in sport. It covers who can report a concern, how complaints are handled and how coaches, officials and volunteers are trained and vetted.

The NOA described the workshop as one of the first of its kind in the region. It said the aim was to build awareness of these responsibilities among administrators, coaches, officials, volunteers and athletes, and to create a shared understanding across the state's sports bodies.

The timing is significant, with a large number of young athletes gathering for the Nagaland State and Para Games 2026 at the Games Village. The association said it remained committed to a sporting environment built on safety, dignity, inclusion and accountability.

Athletes or parents in need of help over abuse can also call the Childline number 1098 or the emergency number 112.