The largest European gathering of the sports organisation and related sectors - the EU Sport Forum - has been organised in Milan, Italy on December 1 and 2, 2014.

EUSA, the European University Sports Association was also present at the EU Sport Forum, represented by its Secretary General Mr Matjaz Pecovnik and Communications and Projects Manager Mr Andrej Pisl.

This year's EU Sport Forum attracted over 300 participants, representatives of European sport, including national and governing sports bodies, Olympic Committees, Ministries, European organisations and other stakeholders.



The Forum started with the official opening by the European Commission by Mr Tibor Navracsics, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport and Mr Giovanni Panebianco representing the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.



The first topic session focused on the implementation of Erasmus+ and the sports programme, where the speakers specifically mentioned the non-profit sports events supported by the European Union under Erasmus+ programme, European Universities Games Rotterdam, Special Olympics and Move Week.



In parallel sessions, participants were able to get acquainted with the 2012 Preparatory Actions in the field of sport, with themes Fight against match-fixing, Promotion of physical activity supporting active ageing, Effective ways of promoting sport at municipal level and Trans-frontier joint grassroots sport competitions.



In the plenary Sport in the European Union, the path forward Commissioner Navracsics introduced his vision and in panel debate discussed different aspects and applications of sports policy on European, national and local level.



European Week of Sport, which will be held in 2015 between 7-13 September on EU level and 7-30 September on national level for the first time, was a major focus of the Forum. The concepts of the related #BeActive campaign was also presented, with the key words Inform, Facilitate, Encourage, Inspire.



The Forum which also addressed the Studies, Multi-sport clubs and Impacts of major sport events, was also a great opportunity for networking, promotion and exchange of ideas, both with new potential partners and the existing ones.



Some meetings and discussions were therefore held between EUSA and the the European Paralympic Committee (EPC) discussing cooperation about sports for student athletes with disabilities and impairments; European Athlete as Student Network (EAS), European Network of Academic Services (ENAS), Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) regarding the topic of dual careers and mutual cooperation; European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation (ENGSO) and ENGSO Youth for the current and future joint projects; International Sports and Culture Association (ISCA) about potential cooperation on new projects, and some other organisations and institutions.



For more information, please see http://ec.europa.eu/sport/