Discussie over sport, gezondheid en fraude in sport op Cyprus (en)

Cyprus will be at the heart of European Sport during between September 19, with the important sporting issues of match-fixing, doping, active ageing, the European Social Dialogue and the development of principles of good governance in sport, at the forefront. These issues will be discussed during the EU Sports Forum and the Informal Meeting of EU Ministers for Sport which will be held at the ‘Filoxenia’ Conference Center in Nicosia as part of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.

The programme for both meetings will focus on issues of concern for European sport, such as match-fixing and doping. Furthermore, the Cyprus Presidency will seek to highlight the European dimension in sport, by promoting issues like "Sport and Health" as well as the economic dimension of sport.

Particular reference should be made to the efforts made by the Cyprus Presidency to issue a joint declaration between the European Union, its Member States and the sports movement on match-fixing. The Declaration will remain on the European sports agenda and provide the compass for decisions and actions in the fight against the scourge of match-fixing that threatens the credibility and integrity of the entire sports structure.

The work of both the EU Sports Forum and the Informal Meeting of EU Sports Ministers will be honoured by the presence of the EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism, Youth, as well as Sport, Mrs Androulla Vassiliou. The Cypriot Ministry of Education and Culture, through the Cyprus Sport Organization.has the responsibility for the organisation of the two events.

European Sports Forum

The annual European Sport Forum will host more than 300 participants from European Institutions and the Sports Movement including executives from leading international and European Olympic Committees as well as European federations. The Forum, which was established as an annual event in 2007, is the largest platform for exchanging views on issues of sport in the EU, with the intention of providing more effective structures for sport at EU level. The Forum will commence this afternoon and will be completed on Thursday, September 20.

Key issues under discussion will be the European social dialogue and the development of principles of good governance in sport. The contribution of sport and physical activity in improving public health and its impact in improving the economy of Europe and the issue of "match-fixing" will be at the top of the discussion agenda during the joint session of EU Ministers responsible for sport with the representatives of sports bodies on Thursday. During this joint meeting the Cyprus Presidency will seek to achieve the adoption of a Declaration on combating the problem of match-fixing

Informal Meeting of Ministers for Sport

The Informal Meeting of Sports Ministers will start in the afternoon of September 20 with a joint session of ministers and participants at the Sports Forum. The meeting will end on Friday, September 21, and the official agenda of the EU Sports Ministers includes the issue of active ageing and the role of sport in creating more active and healthy citizens.

Discussion will take place on the basis of a document prepared by the Cyprus Presidency on the issue. In order to convey the experience and global dimension on the issue, an invited expert will present the role of sport and physical activity in the development of active ageing in North America.