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 social cohesion: “The pursuit of sport integrity should commit all stakeholders and […] support fair play, which is much more than playing within the rules. Fair play incorporates the concepts of friendship, respect for others and a sense of fellowship.”

The Olympic Charter (article 2) emphasises the role of fair play as a catalyst for peace“the IOC’s role is […] to dedicate its efforts to ensuring that, in sport, the spirit of fair play prevails and violence is banned.”

On the occasion of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) is devoting a series to highlight the common values of the European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter. Each week until the end of the Games, we will focus on one aspect of these values. Follow @CoE_Sports in X to learn more!