As the European Commission prepares to table the first EU sports programme by the end of the year, stakeholders are calling for better recognition of the role of volunteering and want the EU to use the new competencies bestowed on it by the Lisbon Treaty to remove administrative obstacles.

During a consultation launched last spring, a number of civil society organisations have voiced their concern at the legislative framework that discourages the engagement of volunteers in sport.

The report on the results of the public consultation on the EU's sports competence, published 28 July, singles out the need for EU action to support the social, educational and health functions of sport activities, already outlined in the study on volunteering in the EU, published in February 2010.

The online consultation got more than 1,300 valid submissions, some 30% of which were filled out by a representative of different organisations. 

Main challenges identified

According to the consultation results, the availability of sport and physical activity at all levels of education was identified as one of the key challenges for sport in Europe in the coming years.

The Commission pointed out that doping is a major threat to fairness in sports competitions, and commercial pressure is seen to endanger the original spirit of sport based on fair play.

Many stakeholders also identified the lack of stable funding for grassroots sport and the predomination of commercial aspects of sport over its societal value as issues to be addressed at EU level, the Commission notes.

Source: www.EurActiv.com