Feb 16, 2014
For the first time ever the council of Europe and EU athletes are working closely together for the EU financed project on protection of minors PSS.
Promoting the physical and mental well-being of young athletes
Experts from all over Europe met from 28 to 29 January 2014 in Vienna, Austria, to discuss strategies to promote the physical, mental and social well-being of emerging athletes. The conference in the Austrian House of Sport was the first of many activities which will be implemented in the framework of the initiative “Pro Safe Sport (PSS)” of the EPAS, which is supported by an EU grant.
“We are very happy to co-operate with important stakeholders in the field of sport, coaches, medicine and education”, stated Stanislas Frossard, Executive Secretary of the EPAS. “This mix of experts from various sectors will guarantee that the tools produced during the project will be relevant on the one hand and practical on the other”. The project will produce a homepage providing ample information on health and safety issues as well as an educational toolkit which shall guide stakeholders, such as sport organisations and coaches, in promoting and safeguarding the physical, mental and social well-being of young athletes.
In unison, the conference participants declared their enthusiasm and commitment to work together on this important topic for the benefit of emerging athletes.
Dec 18, 2013
All the player associations participating in the project are in the middle of the team meetings. They have done a great job so far.
Player associations are still completing their team visits. The key messages are being delivered in the face to face education with the athletes. All countries have completed almost half of their meeting with players and the feedback is really positive so far.
The use of electronic device is a real improvement for the understanding of the key points and posters are more effective than ever with the flash code that can be directly scanned for more information.
CRJE in Nantes will start early in January to evaluate the addiction survey and results should be published in may 2014.
Dec 14, 2013
EU Athletes applied for a project on Player Development Manager with the European Commission, the project have been accepted last week and will start early in 2014.
Dual career of athletes have always been a priority for EU Athletes members. Over the years our members have developed great programmes to help top elite athletes to transition after professional sport.
With the PDM project all the association will be able to compare the work they are doing and will facilitate exchanges between associations.
The funding from the European Commission, EU Athletes will organise two conferences, one in Brussels in February 2014 and an other one in Helsinki in November 2014.
Jean-François REYMOND, EU Athletes General secretary, quoted : “This PDM project will be a great opportunity for our members to compare best practices on transition of athletes. They will travel from to other player unions to see how they are working and how they can improve their day to day work. More importantly we are going to use the guidelines produced by the EU Expert Group on Dual Career, they could be a solid foundation for the work we are doing for our athletes. Last but not least, our cooperation with the other project on Dual Career of TASS, Guy Taylor and myself are looking forward to cooperate and exchange views on this issue”.
Dec 14, 2013
Gender equality in sport was a priority for EU Athletes members in 2013. For this reason, Yves Kummer was present in Vilnius for a conference organised by the European Commission.
EU Athletes members are also representing woman athletes. If the workers rights of men athletes are always questioned by federations, it’s even worst for women athletes.
EU Athletes President, Yves Kummer, brought this message to Vilnius the message, calling for the respect of fundamental rights of women athletes.
Recent example have shown that rights of women athletes are not often respected in case of salaries, pregnancy and androgynism.
EU Athletes is also looking forward for future EU funding on this issue to increase women representation within EU Athletes by helping women to set up atheltes associations or unions.
Dec 14, 2013
Monday 16th december (Brussels) EU athlete held is last board meeting of the year at the UNI Europa office.
The last board meeting of the year was the opportunity to welcome EU athletes new board member Athanasios PSARRAS elected during the last general assembly in Athens.
Athanasios PSARRAS quoted : “it’s a pleasure and a real honor for me to join the board of EU Athletes. With Greece taking the coming presidency of the European Union for the next 6 months it was important for PASAP to be represented in EU Athletes. I’m looking forward to 2014″.
This board meeting was also the occasion for members to officially take note of the departure of EU athletes policy officer in Brussels, Jonas Baer-Hofmann, who going to work full time for FIFPro as head of public affairs.
EU athletes president Yves Kummer stated : “having Jonas (Baer-Hoffmann) in Brussels full time helped us tremendously to develop our connections with the sport policy people around Brussels. For the past 4 years he has been a great asset of the association and we will definitely miss him. I’m glad that we will still be able to cooperate with him and FIFPRO closely on common issues, it’s important for all professional and elite athletes in Europe”.
The rest of the meeting was dedicated to the financial and administrative planing for 2014.
For the first time ever EU athletes will be running multiple project at the same time, two direct EU financed projects : “PROtect integrity” and starting January 1st 2014 “Player Development Manager” project, but also be partner in a project with EPAS and an other one with UNI EUROPA.
The next board meeting will be scheduled in March 2014.
