ENGSO Youth Vice Chair Luca Wernert delivers a keynote at 2025 EPAS Diversity Conference
“Although young people represent the most active segment of society when it comes to practising sport, they are often excluded from the decision-making processes that directly affect their opportunities and participation in sport.”
ENGSO Youth Vice Chair Luca Wernert was among the keynote speakers at the Council of Europe EPAS Diversity Conference on Sport and Intergenerational Challenges for Young People and Older Persons, which took place in Strasbourg, France, on 21 October. The conference explored how sport can bridge generational divides, promote healthy ageing, and empower young people to take an active role in shaping the future of sport.
Representing ENGSO Youth and the German Sports Youth, Luca Wernert delivered a keynote speech on the importance of ensuring access to sport and enabling meaningful participation for both young people and older adults. He highlighted that too often, sport is perceived as a competitive arena rather than an inclusive community. Many young people disengage because the system prioritises medals over meaning, often overlooking the value of grassroots initiatives and the importance of listening to young people’s voices.
He emphasised that young people are rarely included in the decision-making process. Policies, initiatives, and events about youth are frequently created for them, rather than with them.
Addressing the gap in youth representation within sport governance, Luca Wernert called for stronger cooperation with institutional partners such as the Council of Europe, in order to build an environment where the youth perspective is genuinely included. He also presented the EUYOUSPORT project, which is developing a mapping and a Europe-wide study on the current state of youth participation in sport governance.
About the event
The event was opened by Hanne Juncher, Director of Security, Integrity and Rule of Law at the Council of Europe, and Solène Charuau, Chair of the EPAS Governing Board. The spotlight session featured Jean Michel Oprendek, senior sport expert and former Technical Director of the French Fencing Federation, and Ana Japaridze, Paralympic medallist and European Youth Games champion, who shared personal testimonies about the transformative power of sport in their lives.
Three thematic panels focused on engaging young people in sport, supporting active ageing through physical activity, and fostering intergenerational cooperation through inclusive sporting practices.