Irish Sport has been hosting a delegation from the Council of Europe over the past two days. The delegation is expected to report later this year on Ireland’s progress across a range of sporting and societal benchmarks.
The Council of Europe Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport was founded in May 2007 to foster and enhance cooperation on European sporting issues. It is focused on making sport fairer, more inclusive and safer. Ireland became the 41st member of EPAS in 2024.
The Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, and the Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy, Charlie McConalogue TD, were both on hand to welcome the team.
They had visits to the Sport Ireland Campus and to Croke Park, where they were shown the ways in which sport has developed in Ireland over the past two decades.
Representatives of the Federation of Irish Sport, Gymnastics Ireland, and others, including Sport for Business, met with the delegation to discuss issues, including how sport plays a role in integrating migrant populations and assisting those on the margins of society.
In our session, we also covered potential ways in which business – recognised as an essential stakeholder in the European Sports Charter – has been and might be encouraged to invest in Sport for Social Good programmes.
“The Council of Europe is one of the world’s leading defenders and promoters of Human Rights,” said Minister O’Donovan.
“This visit underscores Ireland’s commitment to delivering sport for all, in line with the provisions of the European Sporting Charter.”
“It is also great to see the translation of the Charter into Irish as part of this visit. The Irish language, much like Sport, plays a central role in Irish culture, and it is only appropriate that said role is recognised internationally.”
“Our National Sports Policy has placed a major emphasis on broadening and strengthening our sports,” added Minister of State McConalogue.
“The European Sports Charter complements the goals of our National Sports Policy to ensure that our sports have proper governance and oversight.”
“It also calls on ourselves, as a government, to provide appropriate policy support to the sector, both here and internationally. Delivering on the ambitious aims we have for sport requires capacity, and I am happy to see that further developed.”
“Ireland joined the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) of the Council of Europe in May 2024,” said Chair of EPAS Alexandre Husting.
“This support and follow-up visit of the European Sports Charter clearly illustrates the close alignment of sport policies in Ireland with the values-based approach of the Charter.”
“The team welcomes important achievements, notably regarding gender equality and strong ties at the community level and leaves Dublin with examples of best practices, brought to life by passionate and dedicated people.”
Further Reading for Sport for Business members: Sport Ireland Core Funding for 2025
SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
Sport is urgent and thrives in the moment of competition. Sports Policy moves at a slower pace and is less attractive to coverage and headlines. It is no less important though and visits like this set a tone on how the longer term aims and ambitions of sport in the wider sense can be supported. It was a privilege to be part of the visit.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
A report on the visit will be published later this year and will make for interesting and positive reading.
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MEMBERSHIP AND EVENTS
The Department of Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, and Sport Ireland are among the 300+ members of the Sport for Business Community, which brings together leaders in sport and business and shines a light on their work. Our Coverage of Sport for Social Good is in partnership with Allianz.
The Sport for Business Membership comprises over 300 organisations, including all the leading sports and sponsors, as well as commercial and state agencies.
