Creating a level playing field 2011-2012

Sport can help Europe to address some of the challenges related to the integration of people from less privileged groups, such as migrants and persons of foreign origin. Lasting from 1 January 2011 until 30 April 2012, "Creating a Level Playing Field" was a project supported by the European Commission, which aimed at supporting sports and specialised organisations to facilitate the access of people from different backgrounds to sport.

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Overview

Creating a Level Playing Field received an EU grant in 2010 as part of the Preparatory Actions

in the Field of Sport under the theme "social inclusion in and through sport". It was steered by ENGSO, the European Non-Governmental Sport Organisations and was implemented in cooperation with 10 organisations across Europe who form the project team.

Objectives

"Creating a Level Playing Field" aims at enhancing the exchange of good practice: - between sport organisations and their contribution to promoting the social inclusion of immigrants in and through sport - through cooperation with local level clubs, public authorities and specialist organisations

A book of good practices will showcase project examples collected during the project and will be disseminated by ENGSO and the project partners through their networks.

Recommendations to policy makers will be developed based on knowledge gained throughout the project. The recommendations will serve both sport organisations and public authorities to establish their own policies or programmes on social inclusion.

ENGSO feels that an analytical framework on how to implement existing good practices in other contexts is needed. Therefore, an important part of the project is analysing the examples shared by the project partners. The analysis will support sport organisations to implement efficient future programmes and provide useful information to the European Union to define possible actions under a future sports programme.

1. Exchange of good practice:

2. Production of material - book of good practice

3. Recommendations to policy makers

4. Evaluation and analysis

Activities

• Bi-lateral study visits

• Conferences

Timeline

January 2011 - April 2012 (16 months)

Partners

Lead organisation:

• ENGSO - European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation

Sport organisations:

• Bulgarian Ski Federation

• Finnish Sports Federation

• German Olympic Sports Confederation

• Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports

• Olympic Committee of Slovenia - Association of Sport Federations

Public Authorities:

• Regional Government of Styria, Austria - Department of Sports

• Directorate General for Sport - Presidency - Regional Government of Extremadure, Spain

Specialist Organisations:

• European Network Against Racism (ENAR)

• UNITED for Intercultural Action

Research Partners:

• Semmelweis University, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Hungary

• LIKES Foundation for Sport and Health Sciences, Finland

• Vrije University Brussels, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Department of Sports Policy and Management, Belgium

Documents:

• Booklet "Creating a Level Playing Field" Social Inclusion of Migrants and Ethnic Minorities in Sport

• Recommendations for European Decision-Makers

• Recommendations for National, Regional and Local Decision-Makers

• Final Conference Report

• 7. Study Visit Finland

• 6. Study Visit Austria

• 5. Study Visit Slovenia

• Mid-Term Conference Report

• Current Issues from the European Commission - Mid-Term Conference

• The key to getting EU funding for sport projects - Mid-Term Conference

• Introduction of the Mid-Term Conference

• 4. Study Visit Spain

• 3. Study Visit Germany

• 3. Study Visit - DOSB Presentation2

• 3. Study Visit - DOSB Presentation1

• 2. Study Visit Austria

• 1. Study Visit Bulgaria

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