EVENTS

On June 16-17, 2022, the EAS President Laura Capranica, the EAS Treasurer Mojca Dupona, and several EAS Members and Project partners attended the 2022 EU Sport Forum “European Sport: fair, inclusive and fit for a sustainable future” in Lille, France. Organized by the European Commission in cooperation with the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the event attracted around 400 policy makers from the Member States, sport bodies, and European networks willing to exchange views on the actual and future policies based on the principles of the European sports model.

Ms Mariya Gabriel (European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth) opened the Forum, followed by the speeches of Mr Vadym Huttsait (Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine) and Mr Sergey Bubka (unforgettable pole vault champion and actual President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine), who received a standing ovation as a sign of solidarity.

During the first day, the new HealthyLifeStyle4All pledges were signed and two high-level panel sessions were organized to discuss the ‘European Sport: Fair, inclusive and fit for the future (Moderated by Commissioner Gabriel) and the ‘Sustainable sport: Delivering on the European Green Deal and the New European Bauhaus’ (Moderated by Mr Brian Maguire). Participants were also presented the Métropole Européenne de Lille (MEL) for the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2024 & Rugby World Cup 2023.

During the second day, the agenda included four parallel sessions (e.g., key principles and values of a European Sport Model; Empowering athletes; Drive equality, diversity & inclusion in sport; The role of sport in defending and promoting European fundamental values). During the session dedicated to the empowerment of the athletes, particular emphasis was placed on the relevant outcomes of the dual career ERASMUS+ projects focused on basketball (Time-out), dual career service providers (STARTING11), and parenting dual career athletes (EMPATIA). Furthermore, during her involvement as a panellist in the session on the European values of sports, Prof. Mojca Doupona (EAS Treasurer and General Director of Slovenia) underlined the need to support the holistic development of athletes combining sports and education/work careers. Towards the end of the event, presentations on the European Commission’s initiatives on sport & Erasmus+ by Mrs Floor van Houdt (Head of the Sport Unit, DG EAC, European Commission) and Mr Luciano Di Fonzo (Deputy Head of Erasmus Mundus, Sport, European Education and Culture Executive Agency), on the role of school sport for empowering youth by Mr Laurent Petrynka (President of the International School Sport Federation), and feedback from the participants to the HealthyLifeStyle4All Youth Ideas Labs were offered. In particular, the Youth Ideas Labs is a new initiative launched for the European Year of Youth with delegates nominated by 5 organizations (ENGSO Youth, Erasmus Students Network – ESN, European Solidarity Network, European University Sports Association – EUSA, and Marie Curie Alumni).

Mr Filip Neusser (President of the National Sport Agency of the Czech Republic) and Mrs Viviane Hoffmann (Deputy Director General of DG EAC of the European Commission) provided the closing remarks.

The event was also live-streamed and recordings will be available at https://www.eusportforum2022.eu