As historic partners of sport and strong defenders of sport integrity, the European Lotteries association welcomes the UNESCO Charter adopted yesterday which rightly stresses the benefits of physical activity, the role of sport as a tool for social change and empowerment and the integrity of sport.
EL President Hansjörg Höltkemeier comments: “As the special and sustainable lottery model is notably based on the principles of subsidiarity, precaution, solidarity and integrity, we do welcome the adoption of the revised UNESCO International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport and call upon States to take its provision into deep consideration.
They should encourage physical activity and sport at all levels, as well as address, as recommended by the Charter, the most significant global threats to sport, like match-fixing. Signing the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, which provides concrete provisions for all aspects of the issue, would be definitely the optimal way for states to deal with this phenomenon that undermines the credibility and core values of sport”.
EL particularly shares the need for the protection, promotion of the integrity and ethical values of physical education and activity to be a constant concern for all, as enshrined in article 10 of the Charter. Having alerted for years against match-fixing which is one of the most important threats to sport, EL agrees that education and prevention programmes need to be developed. EL also welcomes the call for compliance with good governance principles and agrees that cooperation among all relevant stakeholders at both a national and international level is crucial.
Lotteries fully recognise physical education and sport as a fundamental right for all and this is why they have for years been working towards making sport accessible to all members of the society, including the weakest ones. Recently, EL members partners to the European Week of Sport across Europe with the objective to inspire and encourage citizens to get physically active. Many Lotteries have also taken actions to ensure that people of all abilities and all ages participate in sport and take advantage of all benefits of physical activity. EL also welcomes the Charter’s invitation to media representatives to fulfil their role as critical and independent observers. Indeed, EL along with the World Lottery Association (WLA), recognising the important role of media in the field and feeling that they are in need of operational information on the topic, had organised in the past national workshops seeking to raise awareness among media representatives on relevant matters. Although the Charter is not binding for states, EL wishes that its recommendations will be followed.