100 million more Europeans active in sport and physical activity by 2020

Grass-root sport is today engaging 40 % of all Europeans in physical activity on a regular basis. However, there is a considerable gap between European countries with regard to the degree of involvement of citizens in recreational sport and physical activity.

The European Union has the potential to increase the number of citizens regularly active in sport and physical activity by another 100 million and we believe that this should become a common European vision.

The benefits of such a vision are apparent. It will increase the quality of life and decrease the number of illnesses and deaths (WHO, 2006), as physical inactivity alone is causing 10% of deaths in Europe. Further, an increase in citizens’ physical activity levels will expand the economy related to the sport sector with approximately €50 bn alone in household spending (Amnyos & Eurostrategies, 2010).

The Public Hearing on Sport for All and Physical Activity will discuss the role of the Sport for All sector in the effort to close the physical activity gap and thereby giving more Europeans the opportunity to practice sport.

ISCA Europe strongly welcomes that both EU and national policies on Sport are increasingly evidence based, taking into account the actual situation and challenges regarding e.g. financing, facilities and volunteering. At the same time, we strongly encourage the European institutions to grant grass-root sports and the physical activity sector a prominent role in the upcoming EU Sports initiatives.

Programme

The European Parliament,

(Rue Wiertz, Brussels, Room ASP 1 E1)

14.00 to 17.00 the 29^th of June 2010

• MEP Seán Kelly (EPP, IE)
• MEP Emma McClarkin (ECR, UK)
• MEP Silvia Costa (S&D, IT) (to be confirmed)
• Nicola Porro, Professor Casino University, Italy
• Pedro Velazquez, Deputy Head of Sport Unit, Directorate General for Education and Culture
• European Commission
• Filippo Fossati, Chairman of ISCA Europe and President of Unione Italiana Sport per Tutti - UISP
• Mogens Kirkeby, president of International Sport and Culture Association - ISCA

Organisers:

The Public Hearing is organized by ISCA Europe in cooperation with and kindly hosted by MEP Mr Seán Kelly.

Registration:

Please register to the Public Hearing below before June 19. Participation is free.