The Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA) successfully organised a landmark ‘Safeguarding in Sports’ Workshop on November 8at the Hokato Hotozhe Auditorium, NSPG 2026 Games Village, Chümoukedima, marking a significant step towards promoting a safer, more inclusive and accountable sporting environment in Nagaland.
The workshop, a pioneering initiative by the Nagaland Olympic Association and among the first of its kind in the region, brought together over 120 participants, including representatives of sports associations from across the state, officials from the Department of Youth Resources and Sports, liaison officers, volunteers and personnel associated with the Nagaland State and Para Games 2026.
The programme was attended by Shri Abu Metha, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Nagaland, Vice President of the Athletics Federation of India and Secretary General of the Nagaland Olympic Association, who delivered the welcome address.
The workshop was conducted with the objective of strengthening awareness and understanding of safeguarding principles in sports, particularly in preventing harassment, abuse, discrimination and exploitation, while ensuring the safety, dignity and well-being of athletes and all individuals associated with sporting activities.
The programme featured two distinguished resource persons who brought extensive professional experience and expertise in safeguarding, leadership and organizational development.
Neetal Narang, a prominent sports administrator, safeguarding advocate and champion of gender equality and inclusion, served as one of the key resource persons. With over 18 years of experience in sports administration and leadership at the national level, she has been actively involved in advancing safeguarding practices within Indian sports.
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Narang was nominated by the Indian Olympic Association to represent India at the Olympic Council of Asia’s Safeguarding Workshop in Bangkok in 2025. She has also undertaken safeguarding responsibilities at major national and international sporting events, including the 2025 National Games in Uttarakhand.
The second resource person, Shailaja Rajan Raj, an accomplished Human Resources and Organisational Development Consultant, Leadership Trainer and Management Trainer, brought over 25 years of professional experience working with leading public and private sector organisations, including Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and JSW.
Having also served as a Safety Leadership Trainer for JSW, he shared his expertise in workplace safety, Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH), emotional well-being, leadership development and organisational management, highlighting the importance of institutional responsibility and professional conduct in creating safe sporting environments.
The workshop emphasised the importance of recognising safeguarding concerns, establishing appropriate reporting mechanisms, promoting responsible conduct and strengthening institutional accountability across sports organisations.
The initiative also highlighted the need to build a sporting ecosystem where athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and administrators are equipped with the knowledge and awareness necessary to prevent misconduct and respond effectively to safeguarding concerns.
By bringing together all sports associations and key stakeholders under a common platform, the Nagaland Olympic Association has taken an important step towards institutionalising safeguarding awareness within the state’s sporting framework.
The successful participation of over 120 stakeholders reflected the growing recognition of safeguarding as an essential component of modern sports administration and athlete welfare.
Through this pioneering initiative, the Nagaland Olympic Association reaffirmed its commitment to advancing good governance, gender equality, inclusion and athlete protection, while setting a progressive example for sports organisations across the Northeast.
