The Paralympic Games: a sport for all as a vehicle for inclusion and an engine for change

SPORT DIVISION 28 August 2024 Strasbourg, France

Sport has long been a catalyst for change, fostering inclusion and transforming societal attitudes. As a celebration of the extraordinary abilities of athletes with disabilities, the Paralympic Games highlight the importance of equal access to sport for all. This principle is enshrined in the...

Read More

The European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter Series: part 10 of 10

The beauty of sport: the European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter

Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) 27 August 2024 Strasbourg, France

Sport is an opportunity; it teaches us tolerance and respect. It allows us to push back our limits and learn from one another, often erasing differences and frontiers. It makes us stronger in many respects. For over five decades, the Council of Europe has contributed to making sport more ethical,...

Read More

The European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter Series: part 9 of 10

Sustainability in sport: the European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter

Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) 21 August 2024 Strasbourg, France

Major sports events bring joy and a sense of community. However, they have a strong environmental, social and economic impact. It is fundamental to ensure that such events are as sustainable as possible. Sustainability in sport is a fundamental principle of both the Council of Europe’s European...

Read More

The European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter Series: part 8 of 10

The power of education in the European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter

Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) 16 August 2024 Strasbourg, France

Sport is a fundamental vehicle for teaching human rights and democracy. Physical education and sport that are accessible to all lead to healthier, more inclusive societies. Education in and through sport is a fundamental principle of both the Council of Europe’s European Sports Charter and the...

Read More

The European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter Series: part 7 of 10

Promoting gender equality in and through sport: the European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter

Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) 7 August 2024 Strasbourg, France

Promoting greater gender equality in and through sport is a fundamental goal of both the Council of Europe’s European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter. As stated in the European Sports Charter (Article 6): “The human rights due diligence approach […] should […] work towards gender equality...

Read More

The European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter Series: part 6 of 10

Inclusion and anti-discrimination: zero tolerance for violence and discrimination in sport!

Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) 2 August 2024 Strasbourg, France

Discrimination has no place in sport. Promoting sport that is inclusive and exempt from any kind of violence or discrimination is a fundamental goal of both the Council of Europe’s European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter. As stated in the European Sports Charter (Article 6): “The human...

Read More

Lithuania ratifies the Macolin Convention

Macolin Convention 30 July 2024 Strasbourg, France

The instrument of ratification by Lithuania of the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions (CETS No. 215), also known as the Macolin Convention, was registered this day, 30 July 2024, by the Treaty Office of the Council of Europe. Lithuania thus becomes the 11th...

Read More

Sport and the French-speaking world: promoting equality and diversity

EPAS 25 July 2024 Paris, France

Sport is a vehicle for peace, solidarity and inclusion. Unfortunately, sporting environments all too often give rise to discriminatory, violent and abusive behaviour. Whether the discrimination is based on race, gender or sexual orientation, it is essential to prevent and respond to these...

Read More

The European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter Series: part 5 of 10

Sport for all: the access to sport considered as a fundamental right

ENLARGED PARTIAL AGREEMENT ON SPORT (EPAS) 23 July 2024 Strasbourg, France

Sport provides numerous benefits, from enhancing physical and mental health to fostering social connections. Ensuring that everyone has access to sport without discrimination is crucial. This universal access to sport is the cornerstone of both the Council of Europe’s European Sports Charter and...

Read More

The European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter series: part 4 of 10

Fair play, or how to foster respect and fellowship through sport

ENLARGED PARTIAL AGREEMENT ON SPORT (EPAS) 17 July 2024 STRASBOURG, FRANCE

Promoting fair play means so much more than just playing by the rules. The Council of Europe’s European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter both place fair play at the core of the values-based sport model. The European Sports Charter, Article 8 underlines the power of fair play as a vehicle of...

Read More

The European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter series: part 3 of 10

Sport integrity: together for a democratic, transparent and ethical sport

ENLARGED PARTIAL AGREEMENT ON SPORT (EPAS) 10 JULY 2024 Strasbourg, France

The Council of Europe’s European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter both promote a values-based sport, with specific provisions on safeguarding its integrity: Article 8 of the European Sports Charter emphasises that “the pursuit of sport integrity should commit all stakeholders and […]...

Read More

The European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter series: part 2 of 10

Human rights in and through sport: the European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter

ENLARGED PARTIAL AGREEMENT ON SPORT (EPAS) 5 July 2024 Strasbourg, France

The Council of Europe’s European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter both promote values-based sport, with specific provisions on the protection of human rights in sport. The European Sports Charter (article 6) states: “All stakeholders shall respect and protect internationally recognised...

Read More

Belgium ratifies the Macolin Convention

Macolin Convention 1 July 2024 Strasbourg, France

The instrument of ratification by Belgium of the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions (CETS No. 215), also known as the Macolin Convention was registered this day, 1 July 2024, by the Treaty office of the Council of Europe. Belgium thus becomes the 10th State...

Read More

Report on child consultation on safeguarding in sport in Bulgaria

EPAS 1 July 2024 Sofia, Bulgaria

Involving children and young people in decision-making is a fundamental step towards enabling the full enjoyment of children’s rights, as well as democratising sport and creating a safe sport environment. EPAS held a child consultation session in the framework of the “Start to Talk” project on 30...

Read More

The Olympic Torch stops at the Council of Europe on its way to Paris

EPAS 26 June 2024 Strasbourg, France

In a historical and unprecedented moment, the Olympic Torch entered the Council of Europe headquarters in Strasbourg on 26 June and was greeted by leading officials, parliamentarians and staff on its journey to the host city of Paris ahead of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Torch was...

Read More

Anti-Doping evaluation visit to Armenia

ANTI-DOPING 25-27 june 2024 Yerevan, Armenia

A team of Council of Europe experts carried out an evaluation visit to Armenia to assess the country’s anti-doping system. Held from 25 to 27 June 2024, the visit aimed to evaluate the implementation of the Anti-Doping Convention. The team met with the Deputy Minister of Sport of Armenia, as well...

Read More

Clean sport in France: the Council of Europe releases a monitoring report on France's anti-doping system ahead of the Games

ANTIDOPING 26 June 2024 Strasbourg, France

The Council of Europe Monitoring Group of the Anti-Doping Convention (T-DO) has released a comprehensive report on France's efforts to combat doping in sport. France is one of the pioneering nations in establishing a regulatory framework, and continues to adapt its legislation to meet the...

Read More

The European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter series: part 1 of 10

The European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter: two pillars for values-based sport

ENLARGED PARTIAL AGREEMENT ON SPORT (EPAS) 26 June 2024 Strasbourg, France

The European Sports Charter is the Council of Europe standard which lays down the basic principles for national sports policies, allowing governments to provide everyone with opportunities to practise sport under well-defined conditions. The Olympic Charter is the codification of the fundamental...

Read More

PACE parliamentary hearing on sport betting addiction

EPAS 25 June 2024 Strasbourg, France

Sport betting is in constant growth, with the online sport betting market being projected to reach €46.33bn in 2024 , which would represent an annual growth rate of 7.91% [Statista]. As the market grows, cases of addiction to sport betting do too, as a global phenomenon and a public health issue...

Read More

Third annual meeting of the MARS Network

EPAS 18-19 June 2024 Lyon, France

The sport world provides fertile ground for corruption and financial crime; seldom investigation, prosecution and sanctions, which are especially complex in the case of transborder crimes, make these low-risk and high-reward activities for criminals. The Network of Magistrates / Prosecutors...

Read More