On 13 July, the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) adopt a resolution on ‘the impact of the COVID-19 closures of educational, cultural, youth and sports activities on children and young people in the EU’ report. 

Among other things, the report spanning 227 amendments, affirms the leading role that sport has in helping with the recovery from the pandemic when linked to COVID-19 impacts related to mental health. According to MEP Hannes Heide, Rapporteur of the own initiative report, sporting activities can be leveraged in different projects aimed at supporting people suffering from or potentially at risk of mental health issues following COVID-19. 

The report finds that premature closures of early childhood education and care providers, schools, spaces for youth work, cultural spaces and sports facilities as a result of COVID-19, has tended to be associated with mental health effects for children and young people in the European Union. 

Accordingly, the CULT Committee supports promotion of cultural and sporting activities, development of sporting facilities and sports-related funding for small local sport organisations as sport and physical activities are touted to proffer mental and psychological rejuvenation. 

The EP Plenary is scheduled to vote on the report on 12 September, which the EOC EU Office will keep you abreast of.