Council of Europe with its Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) and Slovenian Ministry of Education, Science and Sport organised a political conference on Tolerance and Diversity through Physical Education on November 19 and 20, 2015 in Bled, Slovenia.

European University Sports Association (EUSA) also attended the event and was represented by the Communications and Projects Manager Mr Andrej Pisl.



The Conference was opened by several distinguished speakers: Mrs Maja Makovec Brencic, Minister of Education, Science and Sport in Slovenia; Mr Stanislas Frossard, EPAS Secretary General; Mr Wolfgang Baumann, TAFISA Secretary General and Mr Miroslav Cerar, President of the Slovenian Olympic Academy, Vice-President of the European Fair Play Movement (EFPM) and Ambassador for Sport, Tolerance and Fair Play, moderated by Mr Zoran Verovnik from the Sports Department of the Ministry.



The conference was aimed to increase awareness on the role of physical education and sport in promoting diversity, tolerance and intercultural dialogue in European societies and in developing democratic culture.



The programme included interactive discussions, presentations, workshops facilitated by experts, practitioners and academics as well as a political debate transmitted live on-line. Throughout the programme the importance of democracy, human rights, celebration of diversity, values in and through sport - inclusion, respect, equity, equality and fair play, and responsibility especially to children and youth were stressed and deemed necessary to address global and local challenges of the modern world.



The debate outlined the possibilities for improving policies and strategies by identifying sport as a tool for promoting tolerance and diversity in modern society. The conclusions were reflected in the Conference Declaration and provide impulse and guidance for possible further steps at European as well as national levels.

More info on EPAS: http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/epas/