IOC optimistic about the EU Reform Treaty
09/10/2007 |
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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) welcomes the discussions that will be held in the coming days in Brussels surrounding the role of sport within Europe. These discussions are important steps towards the draft of a reform treaty agreed upon by the 27 Member States of the European Union (EU) last June.
This new project offers a great opportunity to strengthen the role of sport in Europe and the structures through which it performs. Sport is the biggest social movement in the EU and plays a key role in the fields of integration, education and health. The IOC is convinced that the creation of a legal basis for sport in the EU Reform Treaty would better address the needs of sport and provide a sound legal framework for the future.
Over the past four years, the sports movement has taken a constructive and unified approach that led to the inclusion of sport in the European Constitution in 2004. The recent decision by the EU to revive the process of a new treaty has prompted the sports movement to draft a new text proposal to be considered for inclusion within the Reform Treaty. The IOC is hopeful that this text, which clearly refers to the autonomy of sport, will make its way into the Treaty.
The IOC President, Jacques Rogge, supported this plea on behalf of the Olympic Movement in a letter to the governments of the 27 Member States.
“The responsibility sport has in society and the autonomy with which it regulates itself are central to its credibility and legitimacy”, said IOC President Jacques Rogge. “Autonomy thus means preserving the values of sport and the existing structures through which it has developed in Europe and around the world. Sport can play its unique role thanks to its autonomy, and this role would be seriously compromised if sport-governing bodies are subject to public interference. Therefore the IOC and the sports movement as a whole hope that this aspect will be taken into consideration”, he added.
(Source: IOC)
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