YOULEAD Partners Gather in Podgorica to Advance Youth Leadership in Sport Governance
The first day of the meeting focused on the research foreseen within Work Package 2. Following an overview of the project’s management and implementation progress, partners presented the key outputs developed so far, including the literature review, national reports, and the first draft of recommendations for increasing youth participation in decision-making processes within sport organisations.
The literature review provided a comprehensive overview of existing research, policies, and practices related to youth engagement in sport governance across Europe. Building upon these findings, partners shared insights from their national reports, highlighting both common challenges and country-specific opportunities for involving young people in leadership and governance structures.
The discussions enabled partners to compare experiences from different national contexts and identify recurring themes across countries. Particular attention was given to barriers preventing meaningful youth participation and to examples of good practice that can inspire future action. The day concluded with a presentation and discussion of the draft recommendations, which will guide the next stages of the project and contribute to the development of practical resources for sport organisations.
Bridging Research and Practice Through Stakeholder Dialogue
The second day of the meeting marked an important transition from Work Package 2 to Work Package 3. To facilitate this transition, partners organised a roundtable discussion that brought together prominent representatives from the sport and youth sectors in Montenegro.
The roundtable featured Igor Vušurović, Olympic gold medallist from Sydney 2000, former Director responsible for State Administration for Sport and former Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Montenegro; Marija Jovanović, renowned Montenegrin athlete and Olympic silver medallist from London 2012; Neda Ojdanić, Director of the Anti-Doping Commission of Montenegro; Miloš Ranitović, Secretary General of the Paralympic Committee of Montenegro; Prof. Dr. Jovan Gardašević, Dean of the Faculty for Sport and Physical Education at the University of Montenegro; Demir Purović, Administrator of the Podgorica Youth Centre; and Nikoleta Bulatović, former tennis player, coach and sports manager.
The discussion provided a valuable opportunity to connect the project’s research findings with the realities faced by professionals working in sport, education, youth work, and public institutions. Participants exchanged perspectives on the current state of youth involvement in sport governance, discussed challenges faced by young people seeking leadership opportunities, and explored practical ways to strengthen youth participation in decision-making structures.
The contributions of the invited experts offered important validation of the project’s preliminary findings while also providing new ideas and recommendations that will help shape the next phase of YOULEAD. The roundtable demonstrated the importance of collaboration between researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and young people in creating more inclusive and participatory governance models within sport.
Looking Ahead
The meeting in Podgorica represented an important milestone for the YOULEAD project. By bringing together research findings, stakeholder expertise, and partner experiences, the consortium successfully concluded a significant phase of research and consultation while laying the foundations for the project’s future activities.
As the project moves forward, partners will focus on transforming the knowledge gathered through the literature review, national reports, recommendations, and stakeholder consultations into practical tools and learning opportunities that support meaningful youth participation in sport governance across Europe.
Together, the YOULEAD partners continue working towards a shared vision of empowering young people to become active leaders, decision-makers, and changemakers within the European sport community.
