ENGSO Youth adds the youth perspective to the 2024 European Sport Platform
Pristina, 21-23 November 2024
The seventh edition of the European Sport Platform (ESP) was a pivotal event, offering a valuable opportunity to strengthen the European grassroots sport movement. It facilitated meaningful discussions on how sport and the European values can positively impact society and contribute to building active, healthy, and peaceful communities.
ENGSO Youth contributed to the event by facilitating a workshop entitled “Safeguarding to protect mental health in youth and young athletes” which was led by ENGSO Youth Vice Chair and sports psychologist Erik van Haaren.
“During my presentation I talked about safety in sports and the importance of proper (sports) psychological guidance, it became clear to me once again that safety is a multifaced concept and that we should above all consciously cherish it when we have it”, shared Erik.
On the same occasion, ENGSO Youth Chair Ugne Chmeliauskaitė participated in the ENGSO Executive Committee meeting, and ENGSO Youth Committee member Alessia De Iulis joined the EWS Committee meeting.
Other Committee members present were Luca Wernert and Valentin Doupona, along with staff members Tiago Guilherme (policy and projects), Nadica Sechkov (partnerships and projects) and Polona Fonda (communication).
The event took place in Pristina, Kosovo
Organised by the European Non-Governmental Sport Organisation (ENGSO) and hosted by its member organisation, the Kosovo Olympic Committee, the event took place in Pristina, Kosovo, from 21 to 23 November 2024. It brought together a diverse group of sport stakeholders from across Europe, including national Olympic committees, international, European, national and regional sport federations, as well as experts in sport, education, European policy, youth, and more.
The event started on 21 November 2024, with a conference built around the Erasmus+ funded project Sports as Value, that offered research and insightful discussions about Balkan grassroots sport and the importance of integrating European values within it with a goal of building more peaceful societies in a historically fragmented region.
Continuing the insightful conversation on values, day two began with a session on the EU enlargement process and the role sport carries in this process, human rights, integrity and safeguarding in sport.
Last day of the European Sport Platform included workshops on the lasting legacy of major sporting events, equality, and the role of cities in inspiring healthier and active communities.
What’s next for ENGSO Youth?
From December 12–14, 2024, the ENGSO Youth Committee will meet in Reykjavik, Iceland, for its final meeting of the year. The agenda will focus on planning key activities for 2025, including the European Youth Sport Platform (EYSP), the Youth Assembly, and upcoming elections.
An exciting year is awaiting us, so make sure to mark your calendar:
ENGSO General Assembly & Youth Assembly 2025 will be held on June 13-15, 2025, in Oslo, Norway.
European Youth and Sport Platform 2025 will be on June 5-8, 2025 in Munich, Germany
2025 European Sport Platform will be held in Barcelona, Spain