The consultation gathered 211 contributions, mostly from citizens (36%), NGOs (32%), academia (12%) and public authorities (10%). Out of the total, 27% of respondents indicated direct involvement in sport: in a sport club or federation, grassroots sport organisation or organisation operating in the sport sector, and 20% identified as amateur athlete, sport volunteer or coach.

The following results should be interpreted with caution, given the limited representativeness and the lack of detailed breakdown of respondents. Nevertheless, they reflect broader trends that the EOC EU Office continues to observe in ongoing discussions at European level.

Please find an overview of the results and findings below.

Results

Strong recognition of the societal role of sport
The results confirm a consensus on the value of sport, in particular for public health (active lifestyles, inactivity and obesity, mental health); social cohesion (community interactions, sense of belonging), skills development through education, and in supporting a healthier workforce.

Beyond recognition of sport’s role in society, respondents could also choose EU policy areas where sport should be considered as an enabler and chose health promotion and prevention, education and youth, regional development and urban policy, employment, social affairs and inclusion first.

European Sport Model: support for the model

• Knowledge of the model: the model is relatively well known among respondents, with 2/3 expressing familiarity.
• Alignment between the organisation of sport and the European Sport Model: 59% considered it to be “to a certain or a great extent”, while 32% answered “not at all” or “to a limited extent”. A discrepancy exists among respondent groups, as 77% of academics perceive strong alignment, while 46% of NGOs stated that the model is limitedly representative of the sector.

Key features of the European Sport Model: governance, grassroots and inclusion at the centre

Importance of the features of the European Sport Model: respondents rated good governance and integrity, support for grassroots sport, and social inclusion and accessibility to be the most important characteristics of the ESM.

Realisation of key features in the organisation of sport:

• Sporting merit, open competitions, the role of volunteers are widely seen as reflected in practice to a “certain or a great extent”
• On the contrary, financial solidarity is identified as the least realised feature, and many respondents call for stronger redistribution mechanisms and better support to grassroots organisations. The topic of financial solidarity is of importance for the European Commission, expected to launch a study in the Autumn.
• Respondents’ views on the autonomy of sport governing bodies are mixed, with 31% supporting maintaining the current level, 31% favouring a reduction, and 23% calling for stronger autonomy. Here too, a discrepancy among respondents’ type is to be noted. Among NGOs, 45% believe that the current level of autonomy is sufficient, with 25% indicating a preference for strengthening it. Academics, on the other hand, leaned towards reducing autonomy, with 50% favouring reduction and 23% supporting the status quo. Public authorities are also divided, with 38% in favour of keeping the current level of autonomy and 33% suggesting a reduction. Overall, there is a clear trend towards linking autonomy to good governance, transparency and accountability, pointing towards a model of “responsible autonomy”.

Main challenges: Governance and integrity identified as the main challenge

• Governance and integrity: governance-related issues are identified as the most pressing challenges facing sport in Europe: 84% of respondents highlight concerns related to unethical behaviour, corruption and conflicts of interest, while 74% point to a lack of transparency and accountability, and 62% to insufficient gender balance and diversity in governance.
• Grassroots sports: a large majority of respondents identify structural challenges affecting grassroots sport, including lack of investment, prioritisation of profit over grassroots development, and insufficient solidarity mechanisms from elite to grassroots levels.
• Other widely mentioned challenges include declining volunteering, discrimination affecting athletes, lack of access to sport infrastructure, unequal access to sport opportunities, including for persons with disabilities.

Strong support for a reinforced EU role in sport
There is very strong support for EU action, with 79% of respondents considering it “very important” for the European Union to reinforce the way sport is organised in Europe. Priority areas for EU action include the integration of health-enhancing physical activity, prioritising funding for grassroots sport, mainstreaming sport across public policies, promoting equality and inclusion, and strengthening governance standards.

Conclusion

Overall, the consultation results confirm support for the European Sport Model and for the role of organised sport in Europe. At the same time, it highlights expectations for further progress, particularly in the areas of governance, financial solidarity and grassroots support.