Youth participation in sport governance – EUYOUSPORT local workshop
As part of ENGSO Youth EUYOUSPORT Project on youth participation in sport governance, our Young Delegate Diogo Silva concluded the first EUYOUSPORT local workshop, where, together with other young leaders, he disseminated and multiplied the learnings and skills developed within the EUYOUSPORT National Workshop that took place earlier that month. See the article below, where he elaborates on the local workshop and his vision for youth participation in sport governance.
Author: Diogo Silva, Young Delegate
The role of Youth in Sport Governance is a central pillar for the future of the sector across Europe. It was with this conviction that I had the privilege of acting as a trainer for the EUYOUSPORT Local Workshop, which focused on youth participation in sport governance. The workshop, held on October 29th at the Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education of the University of Coimbra, was transformed into a vibrant space for debate and learning. The main objective was clear: to challenge participants to reflect deeply on how we can integrate and value the youth perspective within sport decision-making structures.
Leading the session and interacting with such motivated and insightful young people was a profoundly enriching experience. The discussion focused on the urgency for sports organisations, from local to European level, to recognise and capitalise on the direct benefits of youth involvement. Participants highlighted that young people bring an innovative vision and better representation inside organisations.
The exchange of knowledge in Coimbra reinforced that young people are not just beneficiaries of sport, but active agents of change in how sport is managed, promoted and practised.
By promoting this type of training and capacity building within the EUYOUSPORT project, we are using methods that are essential to keep sport relevant and attractive to young people. We are taking concrete steps to foster the development of leadership and advocacy skills at our base. It is through these localised actions that our commitment to a strong youth voice in European sports policy takes shape. Being at the forefront of this empowerment is the most effective way to ensure that the concerns and solutions of young people continue to be a priority on Europe’s sports policy agenda.
My commitment remains to seize the power of ENGSO Youth as a platform to ensure that the future of European Sport is truly participatory, placing youth at the centre of its governance.
Thank you to everyone who participated in this first EUYOUSPORT local workshop. The future is participatory, and we are ready to lead it!