STUDY ON 'LARGE SPORTING EVENTS: HUMAN RIGHTS AS A GAME CHANGER?'

STUDY ON 'LARGE SPORTING EVENTS: HUMAN RIGHTS AS A GAME CHANGER?'

Requested by the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) on the occasion of the workshop “Large Sporting Events: Human Rights as a Game Changer?”, a study of the same name was recently published by the European Parliament. At the workshop, which already took place on 25 May, the then acting EOC President Niels Nygaard represented the Olympic Movement. We reported in the Monthly Report May.

In the accompanying study, the main question raised is the following one: ‘How does the current legal framework regarding the promotion of human rights and the prevention of human rights abuses at Mega-Sporting Events (MSEs) fall short and how can it be improved?’. In order for regulations to fill gaps in obligations and responsibilities to prevent human rights abuses and promote human rights in the context of MSEs, six recommendations to the EU are made to develop adequate contractual obligations in hosting agreements together with sufficient requirements and evaluation criteria in bidding.

Furthermore, as part of the study, the briefing ‘Sport, sustainability and human rights: an integrated approach’, identifies the major risks associated with the life cycle of large sporting events, the rights holder groups which would benefit the most from an integration of human rights instruments and SDGs, the relevant actors in the field of Sustainable Development Goals, sport events and human rights, and to finish with, it issues three recommendations made to the EU institutions:

  • The European Commission should encourage sport governing bodies to clarify their approach to human rights.
  • The European Parliament should initiate a task force with representatives from the sector.
  • Preferential trade agreements should be developed with third countries implementing human rights measures.

The study concludes by a summary of interventions during the workshop organised by the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI), to which Niels Nygaard, at the time President of the EOC, participated.

Recent Posts

WHO Europe report: insufficient physical activity remains a key challenge in non-communicable diseases prevention

The World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe has published a new report, "Avoidable mortality, risk factors and policies for tackling noncommunicable diseases – leveraging data for impact", offering a detailed overview of progress in the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across Europe. The report identifies key modifiable risk factors, such as tobacco and alcohol […]

Read More
First global carbon calculator for sport: OCEAN Sport CO2 Calculator empowers organisations to take climate action

Brussels, 2 July 2025 – The European Olympic Committees (EOC) EU Office, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) the launch of the OCEAN Sport CO2 Calculator - the first free of charge carbon calculator developed specifically for sport organisations that is available globally. Developed by the Oeko-Institut as […]

Read More
Children‘s rights in focus: How EU priorities echo in sport safeguarding

The EOC EU Office followed with great interest the 15th European Forum on the Rights of the Child, which took place in Brussels on 23–24 June under the theme “Championing Children’s Rights: Building Fair and Resilient Societies”. The Forum reinforced the EU’s commitment to protecting children’s rights across all policies and sectors, with key discussions […]

Read More

Related Posts

July 4, 2025
WHO Europe report: insufficient physical activity remains a key challenge in non-communicable diseases prevention

The World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe has published a new report, "Avoidable mortality, risk factors and policies for tackling noncommunicable diseases – leveraging data for impact", offering a detailed overview of progress in the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across Europe. The report identifies key modifiable risk factors, such as tobacco and alcohol […]

July 2, 2025
First global carbon calculator for sport: OCEAN Sport CO2 Calculator empowers organisations to take climate action

Brussels, 2 July 2025 – The European Olympic Committees (EOC) EU Office, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) the launch of the OCEAN Sport CO2 Calculator - the first free of charge carbon calculator developed specifically for sport organisations that is available globally. Developed by the Oeko-Institut as […]

June 27, 2025
Children‘s rights in focus: How EU priorities echo in sport safeguarding

The EOC EU Office followed with great interest the 15th European Forum on the Rights of the Child, which took place in Brussels on 23–24 June under the theme “Championing Children’s Rights: Building Fair and Resilient Societies”. The Forum reinforced the EU’s commitment to protecting children’s rights across all policies and sectors, with key discussions […]

About us

The EOC EU Office is the House of European Sport, representing the European Olympic Committees (EOC), the IOC and other major sport organisations to the European institutions in Brussels.
CONTACT
crossmenu linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram