Volunteering in sport
Sport is the largest voluntary non-governmental organizational activity throughout Europe with more volunteers and participants than any other societal activity.
The European Union estimates that there are over 700.000 sports clubs in its 27 Member States. 86% of these sport clubs are managed by volunteers – the life blood of any sport club. Sport clubs in turn form a vital part of urban and rural societies, as they contribute to social cohesion, health, cultural identity, recreation, informal learning etc. So without volunteers this important social infrastructure could not exist and the social benefits of sport clubs could not be harnessed, as public authorities would not be able to finance all this.
Thus, to promote volunteering also means to strengthen society, which should be in the interest of any authority.
One way to promote volunteering is through the European Commission’s proposal to declare 2011 the “European Year of Volunteering”, during which the promotion and recognition of voluntary work will be highlighted.
- For further information European Volunteer Centre