A Council of Europe team recently visited Helsinki to enhance the incorporation of the European Sports Charter (ESC) into Finnish legislation and policies. The ESC outlines fundamental principles for national sports policies, allowing governments to promote and facilitate sport for all within well-defined guidelines.
During the visit, the team engaged with key stakeholders actively involved in promoting values-based sports in Finland. These included meetings with Sandra Bergqvist, Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity, Esko Ranto, Director General of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Tiina Kivisaari, Director of the Sports Division of the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity, as well as representatives from various sectors of the sports movement such as the Olympic and Paralympic Committees, non-organised sport, athletes, the media, and others.
The visit was conducted as part of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) mandate to support member states in implementing the ESC. The team comprised Kaarel Nestor (Estonia), a member of the EPAS Governing Board; Diana Santos (Portugal), Hugh Torrance (EGLSF), a member of the EPAS Consultative Committee; and two members of the Secretariat.
The insights, suggestions, and successful practices identified during the visit will be compiled into a report for Finnish authorities to implement tailored recommendations. The final report will be published on the Council of Europe’s website in 2024 for public access.