Mar 10, 2025
Earlier this year we were delighted to kick off our latest ERASMUS+ project: Athletes for Good governance and Rights in EuropE (AGREE). Coordinated by EAPA, our first meeting was held in Madrid earlier this year.
The AGREE project promotes the integrity and values in sport, focusing on improving good governance in sport. The aim of the project is to promote the sport governance by enhancing the relevant knowledge and developing competences related to collective bargaining.
The topic of collective bargaining was identified as one of the key areas where more work was needed during EAPA’s General Assembly 2023. Furthermore, the importance was earlier highlighted in the EU Athletes Common Position Paper (2022).
The project will start with research into collective bargaining in sport, as well as exploring the connections between Collective Bargaining Agreements, Good Governance and Athlete Rights. Based on this research, the CBA Report and the Final Report shall be published.
Thereafter 16 job shadowing visits will be organised. Through these visits, partners will be able to develop their knowledge and competencies related to collective bargaining. Furthermore, seven national events involving key stakeholders shall be organised.
Based on the results obtained from the research and the input and experiences from the visits and events, the project will place a focus on preparing European minimum standards and practical guidelines. This will lead to the publication of the following papers: the Minimum Standard European Contract, the Minimum Standard European CBA and the Practical Guide on Collective Bargaining Agreements.
Lastly, the project shall ensure that the activities and all the obtained results are widely shared via specific campaigns and social media.
The project consortium is composed of 10 members, EAPA, the Edge Hill University as the research institution, and eight player associations:
ABP – Spanish Basketball Players Association
AJFSF – Spanish Women’s Futsal Players Association
HSF – Danish Handball Players Association
GIBA – Italian Basketball Players Association
GPA – Gaelic Player Association
JPY – The Football Players Association of Finland
NL Sporter – Dutch Athletes Association
Provale – French Rugby Player Association
For further information regarding the project, please contact: info@euathletes.org
Feb 11, 2025
The European Athletes and Players Association (EAPA) is proud to announce the successful conclusion of PROtect Integrity Online – an Erasmus+ project co-funded by the European Union. The two-year initiative has been dedicated to promoting integrity and combating match-fixing in sport. Through extensive research, development, and implementation, the PROtect Integrity Online has provided thousands of professional athletes across Europe with integrity education using online tools and methods.
Over the past 15 years, EAPA and its project partners have been at the forefront of tackling match-fixing through education. Athlete and player associations play a crucial role in safeguarding the integrity of sport, leveraging their close relationships with athletes to deliver impactful learning experiences. The PROtect Integrity Online project has reinforced this commitment by equipping players with the knowledge to anticipate and resist corruption and manipulation.
Key Achievements of PROtect Integrity Online:
- Extensive Education Outreach: Eight player associations delivered in-person integrity education to 7,533 athletes across 591 team visits.
- Innovative Learning Materials: Development of engaging educational resources, including a revised Code of Conduct, animated videos, and interactive tools to enhance learning.
- Research and Recommendations: Comprehensive reports mapping the landscape of match-fixing education and providing strategic recommendations for future efforts.
As a direct follow-up to this success, EAPA has now launched PROtect Integrity Responsibly, a new initiative building on the best practices and lessons learned. This next phase aims to further refine integrity education strategies, ensuring that athletes continue to receive the highest quality support in recognizing and resisting match-fixing threats.
Why Match-Fixing Education Matters Match-fixing remains a significant challenge in professional sports, with athletes often being the primary targets of manipulation. Without proper education, players may find themselves vulnerable to criminal influence, risking their careers and the credibility of their sport. The PROtect Integrity Online project has demonstrated that systematic, engaging, and well-structured education is key to empowering athletes and protecting the game.
Next Steps and Resources The legacy of PROtect Integrity Online continues through the freely available educational materials developed during the project, including:
With the launch of PROtect Integrity Responsibly in January 2025, EAPA and its partners reaffirm their commitment to strengthening sport integrity across Europe. By learning from past successes and continuously evolving educational approaches, the fight against match-fixing remains at the heart of our mission.
For further information on our initiatives and access to educational resources, please visit: www.protect-integrity.com
Our thanks to our project partners:
AJSF (men’s futsal, Spain), AJFSF (women’s futsal, Spain), RPI (rugby union, Ireland), HSF (handball, Denmark), GIBA (basketball, Italy), AIP (volleyball, Italy), SNB (basketball, France), AJPH (handball, France), University of Rennes 2 (research institution)
This project has been co-funded by the European Union. The content reflects only the authors’ views, and the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.
Jan 23, 2025
UNI World Players, a sector of UNI Global Union, has carried out the first-ever public poll to assess awareness and attitudes regarding athletes’ rights and representation at the Olympic Games. The poll of nearly 3,200 people from Australia, France and the United States was conducted by Ipsos, a leading global market research firm, in the months following the 2024 Paris Olympics. It shows immense public support for greater compensation for Olympic athletes and increased athlete input in decisions affecting their careers.
The poll underscores that IOC’s actions are out of step with public expectations on athlete rights and representation, highlighting the public’s lack of awareness of the challenges Olympic athletes face. As seven candidates battle it out to become the new President of the IOC, to be decided in March this year, UNI World Players is seeking a commitment to fair treatment for athletes and their fair share of the billions of dollars generated at the Games.
Among the poll’s key findings:
Overwhelming support for fair pay for Olympians
- Across the three countries surveyed, half of respondents admitted they “did not know” whether the IOC shares revenue generated at the Games as a form of payment (directly or indirectly) with athletes. Only 18% correctly recognized that the IOC does not.
- A majority (65%) believe the IOC should share Olympic revenue as a form of payment with athletes (either directly or indirectly). Support is highest in Australia (68%), followed by France (67%) and the United States (59%).
Strong backing for greater athlete agency, including sponsorships
- The overwhelming majority of respondents (73%) were unaware that athletes at the Olympics only have a limited say when it comes to matters affecting their careers.
- A majority of over 60% across all three surveyed countries believe athletes should have an equal say with the IOC in decisions that can affect their careers, with the highest support in Australia (71 per cent), followed by the United States (67%) and France (62%).
- There was also support for enhanced sponsorship freedom. When asked their perspective on whether athletes should or should not be allowed to promote personal sponsors when competing at the Olympic Games, the majority of respondents in each country (USA – 59%, Australia – 57% and
France – 51%) believe athletes should be allowed.
Head of UNI World Players, Matthew Graham said:
This poll shows the public support for change. Without athletes, there are no Olympic
Games, and they deserve to have a stake in the enormous wealth they generate.
The next president must ensure the IOC acknowledges athletes’ hard work and
dedication by paying them their fair share, and giving them an equal say in all
matters affecting their careers, wellbeing and livelihoods.
At the pandemic affected Tokyo Olympics, the IOC produced revenues amounting to US$370,000 for each of the 11,300 competitors, and it is estimated these figures will be higher again in Paris. Yet athletes only directly share in a meagre 0.6% of the revenue they generate via the ‘Olympic Scholarship’ programme. This inequity is forcing many athletes to leave their sports prematurely with significant numbers facing mental health
challenges due to financial difficulties.
UNI World Players notes this polling is another reminder that the IOC needs to fully embed the fundamental rights of athletes in its governance and business model if it is to keep up with the demands and expectations of all stakeholders in the modern professional sport era. To take these steps, the IOC must build meaningful athlete engagement upon a foundation of respect for the rights to organize and collectively bargain, allowing for an equal say on all matters affecting their careers, wellbeing and livelihoods. As proven by other sport globally, says UNI World Players, it will be a win both for athletes and their sports.
Oct 15, 2024
Last week, the European Athletes and Players Association participated in the 18th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers Responsible for Sport and other accompanying events held in Port, Portugal.
The theme of the Ministerial Conference was: “Governing and governance in sport, supporting a fresh approach to match its societal importance.” and gathered over 200 participants from more than 50 countries, including Ministers and other government officials, Council of Europe and EPAS representatives, members of the EPAS Consultative Committee and observers.
In her intervention, Paulina emphasized the importance of athletes’ rights and called for enhanced social dialogue in the sport. “With numerous challenges facing the sport sector today, social dialogue is an opportunity for athletes and employers to negotiate adequate solutions, tackling specific problems and taking into account the rights and interests of different parties”.
She also highlighted the crucial role of the Member States, Council of Europe and EPAS in safeguarding the fundamental rights for athletes. “Athletes need you to ensure the respect and protection of the fundamental rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining. To recognise the importance of the independent athlete and player associations. To promote and engage in social dialogue and provide institutional support. They simply need you to create a legal and political framework in which they can fully exercise their rights, improving sport for athletes and all involved.”.
Sep 4, 2024
It is with great excitement that EAPA announces that it is a coordinator in the new EU-funded project under the ERASMUS+ program: PROtect Integrity Responsibly (PIR) scheduled for 2025.
The PROtect Integrity Responsibly focuses on promoting integrity and values in sport, by educating athletes on responsible gambling practices and, therefore, competition manipulation in sport.
The project consists of the following project partners: EAPA as the coordinator, EPIC Global Solutions, a global leading and award-winning gambling harm prevention harm consultancy and the following eight player associations:
AIP – Italian Volleyball Players Association
AJFS – Spanish Futsal Players Association
AJFSF – Spanish Women’s Futsal Players Association
AJPH – French Handball Players Union
GIBA – Italian Basketball Players Association
HSF – Danish Handball Players Association
RPI – Rugby Players Ireland
SNB – French Basketball Players Union
PROtect Integrity Responsibly is divided in the following stages. The first part consists of research on education on gambling harm prevention as well as research into evaluation of the education implemented in the project. Based on the research, a Report on developing education on gambling harm prevention and Evaluation shall be made.
Following the Report, educational materials shall be made for players. This shall include an online learning module and educational infographic on responsible gambling. The new educational materials shall be uploaded on www.protect-integrity.com.
Next, a “Train the Observer” workshop shall be organised for player association staff. The player associations will then provide at least 5,500 professionals and elite level athletes with blended face-to-face and online education about responsible gambling.
PROtect Integrity Responsibly is a continuation of over a decade of successful work from the Association in its fight against match-fixing and corruption in sport. This project will make sure to expand on previous project outcomes as well as cooperate with other Erasmus+ projects and national and international stakeholders working in similar domains.
For further information about the project, please contact: info@euathletes.org
