From Prague to Brussels: our 2022 European Week of Sport journey
Our 2022 European Week of Sport journey began in Prague, with the #HealthyLifestyle4All Youth Ideas Labs and the official opening of the European Week of Sport. A few days later it was concluded in Brussels with staff and project meetings, and the annual #BeActive event.
After we concluded the #HealthyLifestyle4All Youth Ideas Labs and officially open the 2022 edition of the European Week of Sport in Prague, we flew to Brussels to join ENGSO for a staff meeting, held on 27 September. The meeting explored ways to build and further strengthen European-wide cooperation in Sport and Youth. Team-building activities set the floor to get to know the new team members who recently joined ENGSO and ENGSO Youth (ENGSO Policy and Coordination Officer, Elisabeth Strobach; ENGSO Youth Policy and Projects Manager, Tiago Guilherme; ENGSO/ENGSO Youth Project Assistant, Alessia De Iulis; ENGSO Policy Assistant Nerijus Tabokas; and ENGSO/ENGSO Youth Visual Designer, Camila Sobrino).
We worked on the newly introduced departments (policy, projects and communication) and the future agenda of the organisation.
Youth Integrity Ambassadors Programme
Wednesday, 28 September, was dedicated to the project “Youth Integrity Ambassadors Programme” and its respective Youth Sport Integrity Expert Committee (YSIEC) meeting. ENGSO Youth Chair, Ugnė Chmeliauskaitė, and ENGSO Youth Policy and Projects Manager, Tiago Guilherme, are both members of the committee.
YSIEC reviewed and discussed the programme of the training course and the criteria for the selection of the young ambassadors joining the course. The partners also discussed good practices that will be used to build the educational curriculum. The curriculum will be needed for the realisation of both the training course, in which 36 young people will be actively trained to become the first Integrity Ambassadors, and the toolkit that will give YIAP the chance to further spread and disseminate its message.
#BeActive for Sport Integrity
After the fruitful meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, we joined ENGSO and The European Lotteries for the #BeActive for Sport Integrity Event, held on Thursday, 29 September. The event promoted the importance of a safe and clean sport environment, and showcased the key role of youth empowerment to foster a culture of integrity within sport. The occasion officially marked the launch of the Erasmus+ co-funded project “Youth Integrity Ambassadors Programme.
ENGSO Youth chair Ugnė Chmeliauskaitė was one of the speakers, highlighting the importance of collaboration between stakeholders from all levels.
‘’Cooperation and collaboration is a must, working together and including stakeholders from all levels – from local sport clubs and national federations to sports managers and professional athletes’’.
ENGSO Youth chair Ugnė Chmeliauskaitė
Other speakers included Sara Massini, ENGSO Secretary General;Alvise Angelini, The European Lotteries; Paul Standaert, Panathlon International; Olivier Alsteens, Loterie Nationale Loterij Belgium; Hrisitina Hristova, EUSA; and Jenni Hakkinen, with young athletes from the Special Olympics Europe Eurasia. Full recap of the event and the official statement can be found here.
The event concluded with a #BeActive Yoga and Mobility Session led by ENGSO Youth Policy and Projects manager – Tiago Guilherme.
ENGSO Youth is also a partner of the European Week of Sport, and joins the movement each with activities that promote and support youth and sport in Europe.