The European Olympic Committees –EOC– EU Office hosted the 7th European Evening of Sport in Brussels, bringing together more than 300 representatives from the Olympic Movement, European institutions and the wider sporting sector. The gathering aimed to contribute to the review of the European Sport Model and to reinforce cooperation between all stakeholders at a pivotal moment for sport in Europe.
The event took place at the Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg to the European Union, with the participation of IOC President Kirsty Coventry, EOC President Spyros Capralos and European Commissioner Glenn Micallef, responsible for Youth, Culture and Sport. All 49 European National Olympic Committees were invited to the evening, which centred around the theme “Sport is More Than a Game”.
Strategic cooperation between the EU and the NOCs
Earlier in the day, the Presidents of the National Olympic Committees of EU Member States, together with members of the EOC Executive Committee, held a meeting with Commissioner Micallef at the headquarters of the European Commission. The discussion formed part of the consultation process on “A Strategic Vision for Sport in Europe: Reinforcing the European Sport Model”, with a focus on strengthening governance and institutional coordination.
During the session, Commissioner Micallef emphasised the need to advance towards a solid standard of cooperation between the European Union and the Olympic Movement. Topics addressed included the responsible autonomy of sports organisations, system integrity and alignment with the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union in an environment that demands regulatory clarity.
Coventry highlights the social role of sport
Opening the evening programme, Kirsty Coventry underlined the value of sport as a tool for social impact, noting its capacity to improve education, promote inclusion and strengthen communities. Spyros Capralos highlighted the core principles of the European Sport Model, built on solidarity, sporting merit and the autonomy of sports structures, and stressed the shared responsibility to safeguard these foundations.
The evening also included a panel titled “More Than a Game”, moderated by former Olympic alpine skier Ana Jelusic Black. The speakers — Kersti Kaljulaid (Estonia), Amélie Oudéa-Castéra (France), Jean-Michel Saive (Belgium) and Commissioner Micallef — analysed the role of sport in areas such as public health, education, sports diplomacy and social cohesion.
Governance programmes and priorities for the coming years
The European National Olympic Committees and the European Olympic Committees highlighted progress in governance through projects such as SIGGS 3.0, SAFE HARBOUR and OCEAN, coordinated by the EOC EU Office and co-funded by the European Union. They also emphasised the work carried out with Athletes’ Commissions and the development of structured social dialogue within the European sport ecosystem.
Participants noted the importance of securing adequate funding for sport in the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034, alongside strengthening the Erasmus+ Sport programme and deepening the integration of sport into other EU funding schemes. The evening included a tribute to Folker Hellmund, who concluded more than 16 years as Director of the EOC EU Office, and closed with networking activities and joint engagement in the Sports Village supported by Decathlon.
