The 5th edition of the European Sport Platform (ESP2022) was held on October 14 - 15 in Arnhem, the Netherlands. The event was organised by the European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation (ENGSO) and hosted by the Dutch Olympic Committee*Dutch Sports Federation in the Olympic Training Centre Papendal, under the theme Inclusive Paradox.

The event was attended by multiple representatives of European sport, including European University Sports Association (EUSA)

Introductions and warm welcomes were done by ENGSO President Mr Stefan Bergh, written speech by Ms Maryia Gabriel Commissioner for Innovation, Research Culture, Education and Youth, read by Ms Sara Massini, Secretary General of ENGSO, Mr Marc Van den Tweel Director of NOC*NSF and Mr Bob Roelofs Administrator of the City Council of Arnhem. The ESP was moderated by Ms Hanan Challouki.

The program then was opened with the first session under the name Sports4all and The inclusive paradox, having the first keynote speaker Mr Kiza Magendane, Writer and Thinker, Mr Richard Kaper Manager of Sports Participation, NOC*NSF and Mr Jorn Knops, program manager data & sport intelligence, NOC*NSF.

As a keynote speaker Mr Magendane spoke about his experience in the Dutch society in terms of inclusion and diversity, stating that it is a task to every European country to increase inclusivity in sports and to use the power of sports to fight discrimination, to secure fair approach and develop mutual respect. 

The presentations of the speakers of the first session was followed by a round table discussion how the inclusion paradox is seen and what inclusion means, including Mr Kiza Magendane, Mr Richard Kaper, Ms Inge Jansen, VWS Policy advisor Sport and Marijke Fleuren, President, European Hockey Federation as speakers, as well as a side presentation on #OneLove Inclusive Campaign by Ms Fnaan Woldegiorgis, Head of inclusion & diversity department at Royal Dutch Football Association and Mr Jaap Paulsen, Head of Press Office at the Royal Dutch Football Association.

The program then continued with the Session 2: "Where does Europe stand for inclusive sports?", covering latest updates on policy development and relevant results and best practice research presentation on inclusion in sport, given by Ms Florencia Van Houdt, Head of the Unit for Sport at the European Commission and Mr Okrah Donkor, Founder and CEO of a Youth empowerment organisation in Schalkwijk, Tripple Thread. 

The program of day one, was then wrapped up with the Parallel Workshops, where the present representatives could choose to participate in workshops on the topic of: LGBTQI+ in sport, New ways of attracting young people in sport, Social Return on investment and The Power of Youth Involvement.

On day two, the program was opened by the very inspiring keynote speaker Mr Rolf Schrama, Paralympics athlete, who took the participants through his journey as a disabled person, sharing that disability is not a problem but it is a chance and how when he started to accept his disability, new doors opened, and one of them was sport.

This inspirational presentation was followed by another set of parallel workshops, this time on Youth in Sport, with focus on good practices, covering topics such as: Human Rights and youth in sport, Youth Sport model in Norway and Good Practice Exchanges: The ICOACHKIDS Pledge.

The event was wrapped by the final session on Inclusion in sport, with focus on knowledge and best practice sharing, moderated by Ms Sallie Barker. During this session , the Communications Officer of the European University Sports Association, Ms Hristina Hristova presented the project Inclusion in Sport (iSport) as one of the best practices example of working on inclusion of women, LGBTIQ+ people and people with disabilities into sport as well as making sport more open and inclusive of diversity, in general.

Ms Jennifer Browning, International Relations Advisor at UK Sport and EWS Committee member had also taken the stage to talk and share best practices and personal examples as a former Paralympic athlete, competing in women’s Wheelchair Basketball and as a vocal advocate for disability equality and gender equality in sport and society.

The European Sport Platform 2022 concluded with Mr Carlos Cardoso, ENGSO Honorary President, inviting ENGSO members and all other present representatives of sport organizations and bodies to Portugal, for the 6th edition of the European Sport Platform.

For more information about the European Sport Platform, please see www.engso.eu