Kiri

Brussels, 16 April 2024

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NOTE

From: General Secretariat of the Council To: Working Party on Sport

Subject: Lunch debate on the place of women in sport - Presidency background note for the ministerial lunch debate on 14 May 2024 (Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council)

Delegations will find attached the background note prepared by the Presidency with a view to the ministerial lunch debate which will take place on 14 May 2024 at the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council.

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Background

Studies and reports show that women are underrepresented at all levels in sport (participation, training, media

coverage, leadership), as stated in the Recommendations and Action Plan published by the High-Level Group

on Gender Equality in Sport in 2022. There is a gap in women’s participation in sport compared to men’s,

which is further amplified by higher drop-out rates for women.

Various factors, such as sociocultural norms and personal and/or practical barriers, can contribute to this

disparity. Women often face challenges in accessing coaching and decision-making positions in sport which

influence gender equality1. Media coverage of women’s sport also remains disproportionately low compared

to that of men’s sport, perpetuating a lack of visibility and recognition for female athletes2. Moreover, women

are more at risk of being exposed to inappropriate behaviour in sports environments, such as physical, verbal

or psychological violence.

Even though the sports sector alone cannot tackle what is a cross-cutting societal issue, it remains an

important vehicle for emancipation. Many women have spoken out against inequality and their lack of

visibility in sport. The sports sector has developed specific projects for women at every level, such as the

EU-Council of Europe ‘All In’ project in 2018 and the current ‘All In Plus’ project (2023-2025), as well as

plans to increase women’s participation within federations. The development of self-organised sport3 may

facilitate women’s engagement in sport and have a complementary and beneficial impact on women’s sports

practice.

Member States have adopted action plans and recommendations in this regard. They have conducted various

projects and/or implemented legislation making gender equality a priority at EU and international levels. The

recent Council conclusions on women and equality in the field of sport and the Strategy for Gender Equality

2020-2025 both underlined the growing recognition of the issue at EU level.

A wide range of actions and documents highlight gender equality and women in sport at European and

international levels, such as:

 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights – Article 7.

 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – Goal 5 seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all

women and girls.

 Charter of Fundamental Rights – Articles 1 and 23.

 Treaty on European Union – Article 2 states that the Union is founded on the values of respect for

human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including

the rights of persons belonging to minorities.

 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Article 8 provides that in all its activities, the

Union shall aim to eliminate inequalities and promote equality between men and women.

 UNESCO and UN Women, ‘Tackling violence against women and girls in sport: a handbook for

policy makers and sports practitioners’, 2023.

1 European Commission, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, ‘Towards more gender equality in sport – Recommendations and action

plan from the High-Level Group on Gender Equality in sport (2022)’, Publications Office of the European Union, 2022, pp.22-24. 2 European Commission, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, ‘Towards more gender equality in sport – Recommendations and action

plan from the High-Level Group on Gender Equality in sport (2022)’, Publications Office of the European Union, 2022, pp.28-30. 3 All forms of physical activity that can occur in informal settings, generally during leisure time, that do not follow strict formal sporting rules, and that do not

necessarily involve a competitive format. These activities can take place in local and informal settings, such as parks and neighbourhoods, but also in sport

infrastructures, either individually or collectively, such as with friends, colleagues and family members.

LUNCH DEBATE ON THE PLACE OF WOMEN IN SPORT EYCS COUNCIL (SPORT) - 14 May 2024

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Levers for action

Women’s participation in sport should not be thought of as an extension of men’s practice. It is important to

identify women’s needs in order for the sport sector to reflect women’s reality. One way to enhance the place

of women in sport in this regard is through campaigns and projects aimed directly at women, taking into

account studies, reports and recommendations. During this informal lunch, the Belgian Presidency wishes to

highlight two ways of increasing women’s participation in sport.

Firstly, as proposed in the ‘Leadership’ section of the Recommendations and Action Plan from the High-

Level Group on Gender Equality in Sport, the proportion of women in leadership roles (board of directors

and senior management positions) could be increased at all levels in the sport sector. Balancing the

representation of women in decision-making bodies through specific plans to increase the number of women

in leadership roles is a positive incentive. Plans like this belong to the category of actions aiming to encourage

and enhance women’s participation in sport and physical activity. Recruitment and training campaigns are

tools that could be used to increase the number of women in these activities. It is also essential to identify

obstacles to women applying for these positions.

Secondly, it is important to address the fact that women go through various periods of transition during their

lives and that their participation in sport decreases with age4. Motherhood can have an influence on how

frequently and for how long women practise sports. Mothers often put sport aside to look after their children.

Making sport more accessible and attractive to mothers can have a positive effect on the family’s overall

health5. Particular attention must also be paid to single mothers, who often have even less time to devote to

sport and physical activity.

In the light of the information presented, the Presidency invites the ministers to exchange views and

share experiences on the following issues:

 What measures are you taking to increase women’s participation in sport, in particular in leadership

roles (on boards of directors and in managerial positions)?

 How are you helping women to maintain their sporting activities during specific moments of

transition in their lives?

4 European Commission, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, ‘Towards more gender equality in sport – Recommendations and action

plan from the High-Level Group on Gender Equality in sport (2022)’, Publications Office of the European Union, 2022, p.15. 5 ‘Etat des lieux des pratiques, attentes, freins et représentations en termes d’activités physiques et sportives en Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, Incidence 2020.

Administration Générale du Sport, Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, ‘Plus Sportives’ – rapport, 2024

Onaps. ‘Enquête sur les comportements sédentaires et la pratique d’activité physique lors des transitions de vie de la femme’ – rapport, janvier 2023.

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Council of the European Union

Brussels, 19 April 2024 (OR. en) 8960/24 SPORT 39

NOTE

From: General Secretariat of the Council

To: Permanent Representatives Committee/Council

Subject: The role of volunteers in European sport

- Policy debate

Following consultation of the members of the Working Party on Sport, the Presidency has prepared

the attached background document as the basis for the policy debate at the Education, Youth,

Culture and Sport Council meeting on 13-14 May 2024.

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ANNEX

The role of volunteers in European sport

Background document

In Europe, the sport sector is heavily reliant on voluntary work1, from grassroots level to the highest

level. Be it for the organisation of everyday sporting activities (through coaches in particular), or for

the overall management and organisation of club and federation events, volunteers play a crucial

role by:

– promoting participation through the organisation of sports events and competitions.

Volunteering fosters social inclusion, in particular for people who are socially isolated.

– providing logistical and human capital support to clubs and sports organisations.

– strengthening ties within the community and fostering social cohesion.

– promoting (European) sports values such as fair play, respect, solidarity and responsibility2.

– supporting everyday sporting activities through coaching and refereeing.

1 European Commission, Sennett, J., Le Gall, A., Kelly, G. et al., ‘Study on the European

Sport Model – A report to the European Commission’, Publications Office of the European

Union, 2022, p. 46. 2 Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member

States meeting within the Council on the key features of a European Sport Model, 2021/C

501/01, OJ C 501/01, 13.12.2021, paragraph 24.

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Whilst there is a consensus among stakeholders on the importance of sport, Europe nonetheless

continues to face challenges regarding volunteering in sport3. The sport sector struggles to recruit

and retain volunteers due to the lack of people interested in the role, the low numbers of applicants

or in some specific cases the low numbers of applicants with the right skills and attributes4. The

Eurobarometer special survey 525 on physical activity shows that 10% of Europeans engage in a

volunteering activity in sport, with huge disparities among the Member States. The socio-

demographic data also show that volunteering in sport is particularly unpopular among elderly

people, women, working class and less educated people5.

In some Member States, the public authorities are concerned about a possible decline in the number

of volunteers within sports clubs and organisations6, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic.

They have therefore taken measures to encourage volunteering.

3 European Commission, Sennett, J., Le Gall, A., Kelly, G. et al., ‘Study on the European

Sport Model – A report to the European Commission’, Publications Office of the European

Union, 2022, pp.72-74. 4 ‘Sport volunteering in Europe: Realities, opportunities and challenges’ report (2023), V4V

partnership, coordinated by the European Observatoire of Sport an Employment (EOSE), p.

19. 5 European Commission, Special Eurobarometer 525, ‘Sport and Physical Activity (2022)’,

2668 / SP525, September 2022, pp. 63-65. 6 European Commission, Sennett, J., Le Gall, A., Kelly, G. et al., ‘Study on the European

Sport Model – A report to the European Commission’, Publications Office of the European

Union, 2022, pp. 72-74.

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The Presidency has two angles of approach:

– Volunteers are vital for clubs and sports organisations in many ways. One of the most

important aspects is the economic dimension of volunteering in sport. According to our

national studies on the social return on investment in sport and bearing in mind that sport

generates a positive return on investment7, the social value of a volunteer’s contribution to

sport comes right after the health benefits in importance8.

Volunteers contribute to the economic viability of their sports association by reducing the

organisational costs. It is a win-win situation as it allows volunteers to develop new skills and

at the same time creates a better social environment, which in turn leads to greater well-being

in society.

– Regarding the importance of volunteers for the sport sector, it is essential to acknowledge and

reward the commitment of volunteers in sport, among other things to guarantee their

satisfaction and long-term engagement. This recognition can take several forms: a collective

appreciation of the work done by volunteers, the creation of opportunities to enhance their

professional and self-development skills, involving volunteers in the decision-making process

of their sport organisation, and financial rewards, or even gifts, such as privileged access to

sports events.

In order to boost volunteers’ engagement in sport, there is a need to identify the obstacles

within sports regulations at national and European level, as well as the administrative barriers

to the promotion of commitment to an association.

7 OECD/WHO (2023), ‘Step Up! Tackling the Burden of Insufficient Physical Activity in

Europe’, OECD Publishing, Paris, p.3. 8 Davies, L., Zintz, T., Ramchandani, G., Ricour, M., & De Bosscher (2023), V., ‘Social

return on investment of sport in the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles’, iov Adeps, Sheffield

Hallam University & VUB. Sheffield Hallam University.

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Questions to the Member States for the policy debate (3 minutes per intervention)

– Through which measures do you encourage volunteering in the field of sport at local,

regional, and national level, with a particular focus on those who tend to be less involved?

– What are the current obstacles at national and European level that discourage volunteering in

sport? How can they be removed to better involve volunteers? What can be done at European

level to resolve this?

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ANNEX TO THE ANNEX

Related European documents

– The White Paper on Sport (2007).

– Council conclusions on the role of voluntary activities in sport in promoting active citizenship

(2011/C 372/06).

– Council Resolution on the key features of a European Sport Model (2021): volunteering as a

key feature of a European Sport Model.

– European programmes related to the promotion of volunteering such as the European

Voluntary Service and the European Solidarity Corps.

– The European Union Youth Strategy 2019-2027, which includes measures to support youth

engagement and participation in various fields, including sports.

– Erasmus+ Programme: funding for projects aimed at promoting volunteering and voluntary

work in sports.

– European Sports Charter (2021) whose general principles promote sports in Europe.