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COUNCIL OF EUROPE
COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS
________
RECOMMENDATION No. R (92) 13 REV
OF THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS TO MEMBER STATES
ON THE REVISED EUROPEAN SPORTS CHARTER
(adopted by the Committee of
Ministers on 24 September 1992
at the 480th meeting of the
Ministers' Deputies
and revised at their 752nd meeting on
16 May 2001)
1. The Committee of Ministers, under the terms of
Article 15.b of the Statute of the Council of Europe,
2. Considering that the aim of the Council of Europe
is to achieve a greater unity between its members for the purpose of
safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles which are their common
heritage and of facilitating their economic and social progress;
3. Bearing in mind the European Convention for the
protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and notably the
"right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of association
with others", and the enjoyments of rights "without
discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion,
political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a
national minority, property, birth or other status";
4. Bearing in mind its Resolution (76)41 on the
Principles for a Policy for Sport for All, as defined by the European
Ministers responsible for Sport at their first Conference in 1975 under the
title of the "European Sport for All Charter", and that this
Charter has provided an essential basis for governmental policies in the
field of sport and enabled many individuals to exercise their "right
to participate in sport";
5. Bearing in mind its Recommendations No R(80)1, on
Sport and Television; No R(81)8 on Sport and Physical Recreation and Nature
Conservation in Inland Water Areas; No R(83)6 on Energy-Saving Measures in
Sports Facilities; No R(86)18 on Sport for All: Disabled Persons; No R(87)9
on the Eurofit Tests of Physical Fitness; No R(88)8 on Sport for All: Older
Persons; which have contributed to the implementation of Sport for All
policies;
6. Considering that sport is a social and cultural activity
based on voluntary choice which encourages contacts between European
countries and citizens, and plays a fundamental role in the realisation of
the aim of the Council of Europe by reinforcing the bonds between peoples
and developing awareness of a European cultural identity;
7. Wishing to promote the diverse contributions
which sport can make to personal and social development through creative
activities, recreational pursuits and the continuous search for improving
sporting performance and bearing in mind that physical exercise helps
promote both the physical and the mental well-being of individuals;
8. Bearing in mind the political, economic, social
and other changes in Europe since 1976, the rapid pace of such changes, and
their impact upon sport, and that a new European Sports Charter is
necessary to reflect these changes and to face up to future challenges;
9. Bearing in mind the close interrelationship
between sound environmental conditions and sporting activities as well as
the need to integrate environmental considerations and the principle of
sustainable development in sport;
10. Bearing in mind the need to accompany, on a
wider basis, the European Convention on Spectator Violence and Misbehaviour
at Sports Events and in Particular at Football Matches and the Anti-Doping
Convention, which have already contributed to the safeguarding of the
values of sport;
11. Acknowledging that public authorities should
develop reciprocal co-operation with the sports movement as the essential
basis of sport, in order to promote the values and benefits of sport, and
that in many European States, governmental action in sport is taken in
order to be complementary to and support the work of this movement
(subsidiarity);
12. Considering that it is necessary to agree on a
common European framework for sports development in Europe, based on the
notions of pluralist democracy, the rule of law and human rights, and the
ethical principles set out in Recommendation No R(92)14 on the Code of
Sports Ethics;
13. Considering that the European Ministers
responsible for Sport, meeting at Rhodes for their 7th Conference (1992),
the first occasion on which Sports Ministers from all European countries
had participated in the work of the Conference, adopted a resolution
defining such principles for sport policies under the title of the
"European Sports Charter" and undertook to follow and implement
them as far as their authority permits,
I. Recommends the governments of member States:
1. To base their national
policies for sport, and, when appropriate any relevant legislation, on the
'European Sports Charter' as set out in the Appendix to this
Recommendation;
2. To invite their national
sports organisations to take account of principles set out in the European
Sports Charter in the elaboration of their policies;
3. To take steps to ensure a
wide dissemination of the European Sports Charter;
II. Instructs the Secretary General to transmit this
Recommendation to:
a. the governments of States
party to the European Cultural Convention not member States of the Council
of Europe;
b. to international
organisations and to international sports organisations.
Appendix to Recommendation No.
R(92)13 rev
EUROPEAN SPORTS CHARTER
Article 1
Aim of the Charter
Governments, with a view to the promotion of sport as an important
factor in human development, shall take the steps necessary to apply the
provisions of this Charter in accordance with the principles set out in the
Code of Sports Ethics in order:
i. to enable every individual to participate in
sport and notably:
a. to ensure that all
young people should have the opportunity to receive physical education
instruction and the opportunity to acquire basic sports skills,
b. to ensure that
everyone should have the opportunity to take part in sport and physical
recreation in a safe and healthy environment,
and, in co-operation with the appropriate
sports organisations,
c. to ensure that
everyone with the interest and ability should have the opportunity to
improve their standard of performance in sport and reach levels of personal
achievement and/or publicly recognised levels of excellence,
ii. to protect and
develop the moral and ethical bases of sport and the human dignity and
safety of those involved in sport, by safeguarding sport, sportsmen and
women from exploitation for political, commercial and financial gain and
from practices that are abusive or debasing including the abuse of drugs and the sexual harassment and abuse, particularly
of children, young people and women.
Article 2
Definition and Scope of the Charter
1. For the purpose of this Charter:
a. "Sport"
means all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised
participation, aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental
well-being, forming social relationships or obtaining results in
competition at all levels.
b. This Charter
complements the ethical principles and policy guidelines set out in:
i. the European Convention on Spectator Violence
and Misbehaviour at Sports Events and in Particular at Football Matches,
ii. the Anti-Doping Convention.
Article 3
The Sports Movement
1. The role of the public authorities is primarily complementary to the
action of the sports movement. Therefore, close co-operation with
non-governmental sports organisations is essential in order to ensure the
fulfilment of the aims of this Charter, including where necessary the
establishment of machinery for the development and co-ordination of sport.
2. The development of the voluntary ethos and movement in sport shall be
encouraged, particularly through support for the work of voluntary sports
organisations.
3. Voluntary sports organisations have the right to establish autonomous
decision-making processes within the law. Both governments and sports
organisations shall recognise the need for a mutual respect of their
decisions.
4. The implementation of some of the provisions of this Charter may be
entrusted to governmental or non-governmental sports authorities or sports
organisations.
5. Sports organisations should be encouraged to establish mutually
beneficial arrangements with each other and with potential partners, such
as the commercial sector, the media, etc, while ensuring that exploitation
of sport or sportspeople is avoided.
Article 4
Facilities and Activities
1. No discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, colour, language,
religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin,
association with a national minority, property, birth or other status,
shall be permitted in the access to sports facilities or to sports
activities.
2. Measures shall be taken to ensure that all citizens have
opportunities to take part in sport and, where necessary, additional
measures shall be taken aimed at enabling both young gifted people, as well
as disadvantaged or disabled individuals or groups to be able to exercise
such opportunities effectively.
3. Since the scale of participation in sport is dependent in part on the
extent, the variety and the accessibility of facilities, their overall
planning shall be accepted as a matter for public authorities. The range of
facilities to be provided shall take account of public, private, commercial
and other facilities which are available. Those responsible shall take
account of national, regional and local requirements, and incorporate
measures designed to ensure good management and their safe and full use.
4. Appropriate steps should be taken by the owners of sports facilities
to enable disadvantaged persons including those with physical or mental
disabilities to have access to such facilities.
Article 5
Building the Foundation
Appropriate steps shall be taken to develop physical fitness and the
acquisition of basic sports skills and to encourage the practice of sport
by young people, notably:
i. by ensuring that programmes of and, facilities
for sport, recreation and physical education are made available to all
pupils and that appropriate time is set aside for this;
ii. by ensuring the training of qualified
teachers in this area at all schools;
iii. by ensuring that appropriate opportunities
exist for
continuing the practice of sport after compulsory education;
iv. by encouraging the development of appropriate
links between schools or other educational establishments, school sports
clubs and local sports clubs;
v. by facilitating and developing the use of
sports facilities by schools and by the local community;
vi. by encouraging a climate of opinion in which
parents, teachers, coaches and leaders stimulate young people to take
regular physical exercise;
vii. by providing education in sports ethics for
pupils from primary school onwards.
Article 6
Developing Participation
1. The practice of sport, whether it be for the purpose of leisure and
recreation, of health promotion, or of improving performance, shall be
promoted for all parts of the population through the provision of
appropriate facilities and programmes of all kinds and of qualified
instructors, leaders or "animateurs".
2. Encouraging the provision of opportunities to participate in sport at
work places shall be regarded as an integral part of a balanced sports
policy.
Article 7
Improving Performance
The practice of sport at higher levels shall be supported and encouraged
in appropriate and specific ways, in co-operation with the relevant sports
organisations. The support will cover such areas as talent identification
and counselling; the provision of suitable facilities; developing care and
support with sports medicine and sports science; encouraging scientific
coaching and coach education and other leadership functions; helping clubs
to provide appropriate structures and competitive outlets.
Article 8
Supporting Top level and Professional Sport
1. Methods of providing appropriate direct or indirect support for
sportsmen and women who reveal exceptional sporting qualities shall be
devised in co-operation with sports organisations, in
order to give them opportunities to develop fully their sporting and human
capacities, in the full respect of their individual personality and physical
and moral integrity. Such support will include aspects related to the
identification of talent, to balanced education while in training
institutes, and to a smooth integration into society through development of
career prospects during and after sporting excellence.
2. The organisation and management of professionally organised sport
shall be promoted through appropriate competent bodies. Practitioners
engaging professionally in sport should be provided with appropriate social
status and protection and with ethical safeguards against all forms of
exploitation.
Article 9
Human Resources
1. The development of training courses by appropriate bodies, leading to
diplomas and qualifications to cover all aspects of sports promotion shall
be encouraged. Such courses should be appropriate to the needs of
participants in different kinds and levels of sport and recreation and
designed for both those working voluntarily or professionally (leaders,
coaches, managers, officials, doctors, architects, engineers, etc).
2. Those involved in the leadership or supervision of sports activities
should have appropriate qualifications paying particular attention to the
protection of the safety and health of the people in their charge.
Article 10
Sport and Sustainable Development
Ensuring and improving people's physical, social and mental well-being from
one generation to the next requires that sporting activities including
those in urban, open country and water areas be adjusted to the planet's
limited resources and be carried out in accordance with the principles of
sustainable development and balanced management of the environment. These
include:
- taking account of
nature and environmental values in the physical planning and building of
sport facilities;
- supporting and stimulating
sports organisations in their efforts to conserve nature and the
environment;
- increasing people's
knowledge and awareness of the relations between sport and sustainable
development and their understanding of nature.
Article 11
Information and Research
Suitable structures and means for the collection and dissemination of
pertinent information on sport at local, national and international levels
shall be developed. Scientific research into all aspects of sport shall be
promoted. Arrangements shall be made for diffusing and exchanging such
information and the results of such research at the most appropriate level,
locally, regionally, nationally or internationally.
Article 12
Finance
Appropriate support and resources from public funds (i.e. at central,
regional and local levels) shall be made available for the fulfilment of
the aims and purposes of this Charter. Mixed public and private financial
support for sport should be encouraged, including the generation by the
sports sector itself of resources necessary for its further development.
Article 13
Domestic and International Co-operation
1. Appropriate structures for the proper co-ordination of the
development and promotion of sport, both between the various public
administrations and agencies concerned by sports questions, and between the
public and voluntary sectors, shall be developed when they do not already
exist at central, regional and local levels in order to achieve the aims of
this Charter. Such co-ordination will take account of other areas of policy
making and planning such as education, health, social service, town and
country planning, environment, the arts and other leisure services, and
ensure that sport is an integral part of socio-cultural development.
2. Co-operation at European and international level is also necessary
for the fulfilment of the aims of this Charter.
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