Oct 5, 2026
The EAPA General Assembly brought athlete associations from across Europe together in Kisakallio, Finland, for two days focused on strengthening the collective response to some of the most important issues facing athletes today.
For EAPA President Natalia Orive, one message underpinned the event: “What we want EAPA members to take away from this General Assembly is the importance of being united and continuing to work for athletes’ rights in Europe.”
That sense of unity shaped the programme from the outset. While Day Two provided the formal setting for discussions around EAPA’s advocacy, strategy and the evolving international framework for athlete rights, the decision to lead with Tackle Your Feelings Europe (TYFE) on Day One was equally significant.
Mental health and wellbeing remain among the biggest challenges facing athletes in elite sport. TYFE is examining not only athletes’ mental health experiences, but also the capacity of player associations to respond effectively. As that research develops, the practical workshops delivered in Kisakallio may prove crucial in helping associations across Europe build stronger and more consistent systems of support.
Professor Vincent Gouttebarge established that context by presenting the TYFE research, before Dr Hannah McCormack led members through practical workshops addressing emergency action planning and practitioner wellbeing. Her advice to those working with athletes was simple: “Be the best version of yourself for athletes.”
The Gaelic Players Association’s Arron Graffin, Pamela Gilpin and Stephen Henry added another important dimension, drawing on their experience to explore how those supporting athletes can approach difficult conversations. Together, the sessions moved beyond recognising the scale of the mental health challenge towards developing the practical skills, structures and confidence needed within athlete associations.
Day Two widened the lens to the rights, representation and structures that shape athletes’ working lives. Walter Palmer executive Director of World Players Association and Ann-Sophie Duyck of United Athletes and EAPA Board member led a discussion on the ILO Guidelines on Decent Work in the World of Sport, exploring what the Guidelines mean for athletes and the importance of independent athlete representation and social dialogue in turning international principles into meaningful change.
The international perspective continued as Eric Zachrisson joined Walter Palmer and Natalia Orive to consider the Global Framework for Players and Athletes. Their discussion explored the significance of the Framework for the international player association movement and the opportunities it presents to strengthen athlete voice, representation and cooperation across borders.
Attention then turned to EAPA itself. Led by the Association’s leadership, members reflected on EAPA’s future direction and the priorities that should shape its work in the years ahead. Discussions encompassed its growing advocacy with the European Commission and Council of Europe, the development of its international network and how the experience and expertise within its membership can inform that work.
For Orive, whether the focus is mental health and wellbeing, decent work, representation or institutional advocacy, the underlying principle is the same.
“We need to keep working for athletes across Europe, through the advocacy work we are doing with the European Commission and Council of Europe, and through the network of expertise we are working hard to establish in partnership with World Players and FIFPRO Europe.”
Across the two days, that meant moving from the practical to the strategic: strengthening the capacity of associations to support athletes directly, while also considering how they can collectively influence the wider systems and institutions shaping athletes’ working lives.
EAPA Vice President Simon Keogh feels the connections made through EAPA are an important part of building that capacity.
“I really believe events like our General Assembly can do so much for the European athlete movement. By bringing everyone together in one room, associations in one country can learn from the experiences of those in another, while different sports can learn from each other too.
“There is a huge pool of expertise across our network. Events like this help us share that knowledge, build stronger connections and make sure our members can draw on that expertise to better support and represent their athletes.”
It was a fitting reflection on two days spent Connected with Purpose.
Aug 19, 2022
About Tom
Tom Parsons is the CEO of the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and an EUA board member since 2022. He was a long-serving mayo midfielder who retired from inter-county football in 2021.
Q&A
1. What are you trying to achieve as a Board member of EU Athletes?
I believe in the power of the collective voice, and that players want to be change agents when it comes to the future of sport. I want to help harness that collective voice between athletes and player associations at national and international level.
2. In your view, what has been the most important achievement of EU Athletes during your time on the Board?
The coming together under one collective structure of player associations in Europe and forming a body that defends, protects and advances player rights and interests.
3. What is in your opinion the biggest challenge that player associations are facing in 2022?
The voice of athletes heard as key stakeholders within National Governing Bodies & federations in Sport still remains the biggest challenge.
Aug 12, 2022
About Alessandro
Alessandro Marzoli is the president of Giocatori Italiani Basket Associati (GIBA), the Italian basketball players association, and an EUA board member since 2015.
Q&A
1. What are you trying to achieve as a Board member of EU Athletes?
As a Board member of EU Athletes, I am striving to improve the work and life conditions of every single athlete in Europe.
2. In your view, what has been the most important achievement of EU Athletes during your time on the Board?
The most important achievement of EU Athletes has been the implementation of European projects that involve athletes and create better opportunities for their future.
3. What is in your opinion the biggest challenge that player associations are facing in 2022?
The biggest challenge that player associations are facing in 2022 is the direct involvement in crucial decisions that will affect sport sector and athletes in the future.
Aug 5, 2022
About Camille
Camille is the adviser to the president at Union Nationale des Footballeurs Professionnel (UNFP) and an EU Athletes board member since 2017. With educational background in law, Camille is working for UNFP since 2013.
Q&A
What are you trying to achieve as a Board member of EU Athletes?
I would like to contribute, at my level, to the continuity of the mission of EU Athletes: to convey this open-mindedness necessary to the members, the associations and the people working for athletes in Europe. To promote this curiosity about what our colleagues are doing beyond our borders. Being interested in others often makes us realize that we are not alone. I would also like to continue to raise awareness of the strength of the collective. The actions initiated by EU Athletes do not replace the daily projects and struggles of the members, but complement them on another scale. This complementarity is essential.
In your view, what has been the most important achievement of EU Athletes during your time on the Board?
Without a doubt, the ISU Case. The support that EU Athletes provided to the main people concerned – aware of the stakes for hundreds of athletes after them – marked a turning point in the visibility of the structure.
What is in your opinion the biggest challenge that player associations are facing in 2022?
To constantly renew ourselves, to live with the time and not to stand still regardless of our achievements. Moreover, to adapt to our members and to maintain our proximity with them.
Jul 29, 2022
About Simon
Simon Keogh is the CEO of Rugby Players Ireland (RPI), the representative body for professional rugby players in Ireland, and an EUA board member since 2013. Simon has a background as professional rugby player and is a qualified solicitor.
Q&A
What are you trying to achieve as a Board member of EU Athletes?
I would like to be part of a movement that ensure players’ voices are heard and a respected stakeholder at the table. By facilitating knowledge sharing across player associations, we can learn from shared experiences and ensure that we are in the best possible position to provide meaningful representation.
In your view, what has been the most important achievement of EU Athletes during your time on the Board?
I think the facilitation and implementation of existing Erasmus programmes and being part of the application process of potential new programmes. I have seen the direct benefit in Ireland of the ProMobility and ProLead initiatives and look forward to being part of future projects for the benefit of our athletes.
What is in your opinion the biggest challenge that player associations are facing in 2022?
Recognition. I think regardless of how organised athletes are through their player association, their voice as valued stakeholders can slide down pecking order when other interests are at play.
Jul 22, 2022
About Sander
Sander is the chairman of NL Sporter and an EU Athletes board member since 2018. He is also a former professional basketball player.
Q&A
What are you trying to achieve as a Board member of EU Athletes?
We are trying to give a voice to Athletes who are not able to or do not have the knowledge, time or experience to look out for their basic rights, whether individual or collective.
In your view, what has been the most important achievement of EU Athletes during your time on the Board?
Of course everything we try to do is important and all the small things together will matter for the big picture. Every individual athlete whom we can help will hopefully be impacted in a positive way. From a collective (policy or regulatory) standpoint we will always try to influence policies where we can and by doing this, prevent wrongdoing towards our athletes.
What is in your opinion the biggest challenge that player associations are facing in 2022?
The biggest challenge Athletes are facing is as always that organisations try to rule over the backs of athletes instead of including them in the decision making process. When decisions concern basic human rights, it is particularly important that the voice of the athletes is heard.
