MEP Hannu Takkula, (ALDE, Finland), the European Parliament’s rapporteur the report on the Integrated approach to Sport Policy today convened stakeholders and policymakers at a public hearing on “The way forward for grassroots sport in Europe”.The event was organised by the European Non-Governmental Sport Organisation (ENGSO) and supported by the European Lotteries Association (EL).
In their opening addresses, ENGSO President, Carlos Cardoso, underlined the importance of the Recommendations of the High Level Group Grassroots Sport, also making a strong reference to the role of Lotteries in terms of sports funding and Jens Nymand Christensen, Deputy Director General of DG EAC of the European Commission highlighted the significant role of grassroots sport also in terms of social integration of refugees.
Following up with the publication of the Recommendations published last June by the High Level group “Grassroots Sport”, from the lottery sector, the Chairman of EL Sport Committee, Torbjørn Almlid provided numerous concrete examples of how Lotteries are using their capillary network to support all EU initiatives related to sport such as the upcoming European Week of Sport in all Member States; of how they have been sustainably supporting the creation of accessible sport facilities around Europe and promote various other projects aiming to use sport as a tool for youth and gender empowerment, integration and skills development.
Torbjørn Almlid announced the new EL Sport Award, promising that “it will be open to any social sport project, fully in line with the EL core values” and urged for the submission of projects.
Addressing the High Level Group Recommendations to the EU, EL President Hansjörg Höltkemeier expressed his appreciation for the overall work and the reference to the Lotteries and also welcomed MEP Takkula’s work on his new report on sport policy, noting: “It represents a renewed commitment to keep sport high on the agenda of the European Parliament”. He finally recalled that “illegal betting, not only represents a risk to public order but also jeopardises the sustainable financing of grassroots sport”.
MEP Takkula concluded the event with reiterating the positive societal impacts of grassroots sport, noting that many of the points discussed shall form part of his upcoming report and thanked ENGSO and EL for the organisation of the event.
Projects can be submitted to be considered for the EL Sport Award as of December 31. The winner will be made public in June 2017 at the European Lotteries’ bi-annual Congress in Krakow, Poland.