Apr 15, 2022
Every year on the 15th of April, the #EUSportIntegrityDay campaign is an opportunity to take a stand against match fixing and show commitment to protect the integrity of sport. This campaign was established by EU Athletes in 2014 and has developed and grown ever since, with more stakeholders showing their support every year. #EUSportIntegrityDay 2022 proved successful and was promoted by several public and private stakeholders, including player unions and associations from all over Europe, as well as WADA, Council of Europe or IBIA.
Match-fixing is not a new problem in sport. It is a persistent and ever-evolving phenomenon which poses a severe threat to the sports we love by undermining the integrity of the game. By virtue of the financial challenges and changing sporting circumstances pertaining to Covid-19 as well as the increasingly digital era, match fixing has recently taken new forms and diversified into new areas. This calls for strengthened and collective efforts by different stakeholders.
The involvement of athletes and their associations at national, European, and international level in the fight against match fixing is essential. Not only are athletes the ones with the most to lose if match fixing destroys public confidence in the sport they love and earn a living from, but they are also a vital factor in preventing match fixing as the “direct influencers” on the field of play. Athletes who are educated about the dangers of the phenomenon and who are given the opportunity to securely report to suspicious activity have the potential to effectively gate keep sports from manipulation.
An additional element of essence, the importance of which cannot not be understated, is good governance. Where good governance standards are met, including the respect for athletes rights and interests as well as the transparency at every level of sport organisations, there is less risk for match fixing to flourish.
Feb 25, 2022
EU Athletes stands with the international community condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and expresses its solidarity with the people suffering because of this unprovoked and horrific attack. This hostility must be met with a strong and adequate response from the World leaders, and we support the immediate implementation of sanctions.
Sport must also play its part. For far too long, Russia has been using sport and mega sporting events as a tool to strengthen its brutal regime. European governments and sport sector must reject the sportswashing practices by the Russian state, companies and individuals.
EU Athletes believes in the power of sport to have a positive impact and strengthen the fundamental European values such as peace, democracy, rule of law and the respect of human right. But for this to happen, sport organisations must demonstrate strong commitment to these principles, and be ready to take action when it is necessary.
A country that bluntly violates these fundamental values cannot be accepted in the international sport community and should face serious consequences. We believe that Russia must be held responsible by the international sport organisations for its actions, as they are clearly incompatible with the values that these bodies declare to stand for. Firm sanctions should include relocating all international sport events from Russia as UEFA has shown by moving the Champion’s League final from Saint Petersburg to Paris.
Finally, we encourage everyone to demonstrate their support to the people of Ukraine and to help in any way they can, particularly by donating to official charitable organisations.
Contact: Paulina Tomczyk, EU Athletes General Secretary paulinatomczyk@euathletes.org
Jan 28, 2022
The PROMobility project, coordinated by EU Athletes and financed by the EU under the ‘Exchanges and Mobility in Sport’ Preparatory Action, aims to develop cooperation in sport through job shadowing for the staff and volunteers at player associations in Europe and South Africa. Its goal is to improve the skills and knowledge base of key personnel at player associations, thereby enabling them to better support their athletes.
On 28th of January, the fifth and final Online Exchange took place as part of PROMobility, focusing on on Commercial development and marketing. Presentations were given on the topic by Iris Slappendel (The Cyclists Alliance), Eugene Henning and David de Villiers (My Players), and Ben Broster (Provale) – representing organisations with varying size, operation and experience. Subsequently, the participating organisations were divided into breakout rooms where they engaged in constructive discussions.
Previous Online Exchanges have dealt with Player recruitment and engagement, Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic, Communications and media, and Player development.
The project is henceforth entering into a much anticipated phase, as participating organisations will take part in job shadowing exchanges between March and September 2022.
Dec 10, 2021
The PROMobility project, financed by the EU under the ‘Exchanges and Mobility in Sport’ Preparatory Action, aims to develop cooperation in sport through job shadowing for the staff and volunteers at player associations in Europe and South Africa. Its goal is to improve the skills and knowledge base of key personnel at player associations thereby enabling them to better support their athletes.
The project’s workplan has been modified because of the impact of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. It was decided to start with the Online Exchanges on defined topics, which allow the participants to network and deepen their knowledge, and to continue with the physical job shadowing visits in 2022.
Four Online Exchanges have already taken place: Player recruitment and engagement and Response to the Covid-19 pandemic in June; Communications and media on 26th of November and the Online Exchange on Player Development has taken place today.
Player development is a key priority for player associations and this meeting has generated an important interest. Around 20 participants form different player associations have participated in the event. After presentations from AJFS, GPA and My Players, the participants engaged in discussions on the topic. The meeting allowed them to share experiences, learn from each other and develop good practice.
The Online Exchange on Commercial development and marketing will take place in the New Year, it will hopefully be followed to physical mobility of the participants.
Dec 3, 2021
Following the recent Resolution of the Council on the key features of a European Sport Model, EU Athletes takes note of an expressed need to ‘further explore and continue on-going discussions with all sport stakeholders on the key features of a European Sport Model by acknowledging the diversity of approaches and new developments across different types of sport…’.
We support this approach as we believe that emerging challenges related to the governance of sport should be addressed through dialogue, negotiations and multi-stakeholder initiatives. Therefore, EU Athletes remains committed to cooperating with the governments, European organisations and institutions, as well as the sport organisations, and making sure that the voice of the European athletes is properly taken into account in these discussions.
As previously stated in EU Athletes’ position, any model of sport that can be accepted in Europe must comply with the principles of good governance, rule of law and democracy, while respecting and promoting the human rights of athletes and other people involved. Furthermore, there cannot be any support for a model that disregards the views, rights and interests of professional and elite athletes as people and workers.
We reiterate that the freedom of association, defined as one of the key features of a European Sport Model, is a fundamental right of athletes. Athletes have a right to form or join an athlete association to defend and advance their interests, to be represented in the decision making by the people of their own choosing and to collectively negotiate the terms upon which they are involved in sport. It is essential to ensure that these rights of athletes are respected, protected and promoted by the Member States, the European Union and the sport organisations.
In any case, the concept of a ‘European Sport Model’ cannot be used as an excuse for sport organisations to claim special treatment’ or exemption from the application of national and European law, including EU competition law. Ensuring that the sport sector is sustainable and fit for future challenges requires setting clear limits to the autonomy and specificity of sport.
EU Athletes recognizes and supports a crucial role that the European governments and the European Union have to play in ensuring that sport is well governed, complies with the law and respects the fundamental rights of athletes and other stakeholders. We believe that these considerations need to be at the centre of the future inclusive and multi-stakeholder discussions on a European Sport Model.
For any further information, contact Paulina Tomczyk, EU Athletes General Secretary paulinatomczyk@euathletes.org
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