The European Commission, in cooperation with the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, hosted the 2022 edition of the EU Sport Forum on June 16 and 17 in Lille, France. European University Sports Association (EUSA) and its Institute were represented at the event as well.

The EU Sport Forum is an annual event, supporting dialogue with the European and international sport community. It represents a central meeting point between sport organisations, representatives of the EU Institutions and Member States exchanging views on the current and future sport policies.



This years’ EU Sport Forum was held at the EuraTechnologies facility in Lille, with the main theme European Sport: fair, inclusive and fit for a sustainable future. Both days covered current priorities in the field of European sport with an emphasis on inclusiveness, equality and solidarity as key principles and values of a European sports model; green transition of the sport sector; good governance in sport with focus on athletes empowerment; and the protection and promotion of well-being notably of young people through sport.



European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Ms Mariya Gabriel opened the event, in front over 400 persons in Lille, and hundreds more online participants.



Solidarity with Ukraine – contribution from sport session hosted Mr Vadym Huttsait, Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and Mr Sergey Bubka, President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine; both receiving standing ovations and clear support.



High-level panel on European sport was held next, with Commissioner Gabriel as moderator, and guest panellists Mr Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe; Ms Mary Charalambous Papamiltiades, Director General of the Cyprus Sport Organisation; Mr Spyros Capralos, President of teh European Olympic Committees; Mr Gilles Quénéhervé, Director of the Ministry of Sports of France; and Mr Francesco Ricci Bitti, President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations.



Special emphasis was given on the HealthyLifeStyle4All initiative. Signature of new HealthyLifeStyle4All pledges was made, following the ones signed last year at the opening of the European Week of Sport, where also EUSA signed the pledge to promote the initiative.

Another High-level panel was held on the first day, on Sustainable sport, delivering on the European Green Deal and the New European Bauhaus. Moderated by the main master of ceremony Mr Brian Maguire, the panellists were Mr Tomasz Frankowski, Member of the European Parliament; Ms Marie-Amélie Le Fur, President of the French Paralympic and Sports Committee; Mr Leonz Eder, Acting President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), Ms Isabelle Guyader, Chief Sustainability Officer at Decathlon International and Ms Marie Barsacq, Executive Director for Impact and Legacy of Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.



Two sets of parallel sessions were held on the second day - Key principles and values of a European Sport Model and Empowering athletes; as well as Drive equality, diversity & inclusion in sport and The role of sport in defending and promoting European fundamental values.



European Commission’s initiatives on sport & Erasmus was presented by Ms 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 (EACEA).



HealthyLifeStyle4All Youth Ideas Labs, consisting of young participants nominated by youth organisations, was launched at this year's EU Sport Forum, reflecting also the European Year of Youth. Young delegates were nominated by 5 organisations, identified by the European Commission - Marie Curie Alumni, European Solidarity Network, European University Sports Association (EUSA), Erasmus Students Network (ESN), ENGSO Youth.



During the course of 3 days, 20 young people gathered in Lille, supported by 3 facilitators. They were tasked to review the 3 key pillars of the HealthyLifeStyle4All initiative (awareness, access, holistic approach), and define actions and priorities related to the initiative, from a youth point of view.



The youth delegates also met with Commissioner Gabriel and Minister Oudea-Castera, and the outcome of their work was presented in plenary session in form of elevator pitches for 5 identified ideas.



The event was closed by Ms Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, Minister of Sport and Olympic and Paralympic Games of France; Mr Filip Neusser, President of the National Sports Agency of the Czech Republic; and Ms Viviane Hoffmann, Deputy Director General of DG EAC at the European Commission.



EUSA was represented at the event by Mr Andrej Pisl, Communications and Projects Manager, who was also one of the facilitators of the Youth Ideas Labs; and the nominated youth delegates who travelled to Lille were Mariano Carcatella (ITA/SLO), Marianna Pikul (POL), Zrinka Tabain (CRO/DEN), and in cooperation with the European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF) also Carolina Sousa E Sa (POR/GBR) and Connor Kavanagh (IRL).

For more information, please see https://www.eusportforum2022.eu and https://sport.ec.europa.eu/initiatives/healthylifestyle4all