On 20 and 21 of November, for the 8th consecutive time, the National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport hosted a traditional scientific forum dedicated to discussions on the social, environmental, economic, and organizational dimensions of sports, issues related to physical culture for children and youth, sports training and Olympic education, the development of choreographic arts to achieve sustainable development goals, as well as addressing current challenges of sports medicine.

The international conference on Sustainability and Legacy in Sport: Challenges and Perspectives was held in Kyiv in hybrid format, hosted by the National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Ministry of Youth and Sport of Ukraine, National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, under the patronage of the European University Sports Association (EUSA), and the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE).

The conference started with the opening remarks by Prof. Dr. Yulia Hryshina, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament; Yuriy Pavlenko, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament, former Minister of Ukraine for Family, Youth, and Sports; Matviy Bidnyi, Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine; Mr Vadym Guttsait, President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, Olympic Champion; Vadym Stetsenko, Secretary General of the Sports Student Union of Ukraine; Uri Schaefer, President of the International Council on Sports Science and Physical Education; and Adam Roczek, President of the European University Sports Association (EUSA). 

As part of the opening remarks, the Order of Merit that was awarded posthumously to Mr Yevgeniy Imas in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the development of university sports on the occasion of EUSA 25th Anniversary Gala dinner in Vienna last week was presented in front of the present guests and participants, and handed to Oleksandr Pizhov the Rector of the National University of Physical Education and Sport of Ukraine.

The programme of the conference then continued with the first plenary session, including four speakers and four different topics. Oleksii Dniprov was presenting on the topic of Sports and Education: Modern Challenges; Jana Vooboril presented the Distinctive features of the Swiss system for elite athlete preparation; and Viorel Mocanu explained how adapted physical activities are used as a tool for social inclusion. 

Concluding the keynote speakers, on behalf of the European University Sports Association (EUSA), Andrej Pisl, EUSA Projects and Policy Manager, presented the sustainability commitment of European University Sport through the lense of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) sustainability model. Participants had the opportunity to hear more about EUSA environmental sustainability commitment, through EUSA Green Policy, sustainable planning of EUSA events, networking, cooperation, partnerships and projects, also in terms of creating more sustainable sport events, as well as the scoop of educational events that EUSA is organising.

Projects related to sustainability, dual careers, good government, equal opportunities, and joint projects and initiatives were also presented. Special focus was on those projects, co-funded by the European Union on environmental sustainability which EUSA Institute either leads (e.g. Fit For Green - Fit4Green) or partners with (e.g. Green Sports Hub Europe - GSHE and European Week of Winter Sport - EWWS).

The day was then concluded with the second plenary session and discussion panel, focusing on social, ecological, economic, and organizational dimensions of sport in the concept of sustainable development. Different strategic management tools and inclusive methods, analysis, branding and marketing ideas of promoting sports, and the role of technology in the development of competitive sport activities were the topics discussed on the panel. 

During the second day of the conference, the programme offered a full agenda of interesting topics, starting with the plenary session on physical culture and sports for children and youth as components of sustainable development concepts. Olympic education as implementation of sustainable development ideas in society and project activities in education and science: modern opportunities for youth were the topics that brought up fruitful presentations and discussions, as well. 

Over the past eight years, the Conference has united governmental and nongovernmental organizations, more than 25 higher education and research institutions in Ukraine and around the world, educators, scholars from many countries, as well as professionals in physical culture and sports, doctoral students, postgraduates, and students. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), adopted by the United Nations in 2015, represent a global action plan aimed at addressing humanity’s most pressing issues. At first glance, physical culture and sports may seem far removed from them; however, they play a significant role and are powerful tools for achieving important goals of promoting health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, reducing inequalities, sustainable urban and community development, and partnerships for sustainable development. Sport has the potential to unite people, bridge divides, and create a more equitable and prosperous society.

For more information, please see https://uni-sport.edu.ua.