EU SPORT FORUM HIGHLIGHTS SOLIDARITY AS KEY FEATURE IN EUROPEAN SPORTS MODEL

Organised by the European Commission, the EU's main event to promote the expansion of sports activities and programmes across Europe – the EU Sport Forum - took place in Lille on 16 and 17 June, with the overall theme "European sport: fair, inclusive and ready for a sustainable future". 

Amongst the participants were representatives of the EU institutions, national ministries of sport and local authorities, athletes and members of sports movements, organisations, federations and clubs, exchanging views on the current and future sport policies. 

The opening of the event was led by Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, where she referenced sports as a vector for fundamental principles and universal values, connecting this to the efforts made by athletes and sports organisations in the support of Ukraine. She emphasized the importance of the European Sports Model and concrete examples of how the EU is developing to support this model, referencing the HealthyLifestyle4All Initiative and the future Erasmus+ action on mobilisation and mentorships in sports, with an allocation of 8 million euros to begin in 2023, allowing 2500 members of sports organisations to experience training in the four corners of Europe. 

The panel on “European Sport: fair, inclusive and fit for the future”, which included EOC President Spyros Capralos, gave emphasis on inclusiveness, equality and solidarity as key principles and values of a European Sports model, which was clearly highlighted by the sports community when faced with the Ukraine crisis.  

The forum also featured a high-level panel on ‘Sustainable sport: delivering on the European Green Deal and the New European Bauhaus’, where the participants reiterated the importance of sustainability norms and values through sport within the European Union. 

Other panels included discussions on good governance in sport with focus on athletes's empowerment and the protection and promotion of well-being notably of young people through sport, the role of sport in defending and promoting European fundamental values, European Commission’s initiatives on sport & Erasmus+ and the agenda for sports the upcoming Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union. 

The full programme can be viewed here.