A team of Council of Europe experts visited Helsinki on 18 and 19 April to enhance the incorporation of the European Sports Charter (ESC) into Finnish legislation and policies. The ESC sets out the fundamental principles for national sports policies, enabling governments to promote and facilitate the practice of sport for all within well-defined guidelines.
During the visit, the team engaged with key stakeholders actively involved in promoting values-based sports in Finland. This included meetings with Sandra Bergqvist, Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity, Esko Ranto, Director General of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Tiina Kivisaari, Director of the Sports Division of the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity, as well as representatives from various sectors of the sports movement such as the Olympic and Paralympic Committees, non-organised sport, athletes, the media, and others.
The visit was conducted as part of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) mandate to support member states in implementing the ESC. The team comprised Kaarel Nestor (Estonia), a member of EPAS Governing Board; Diana Santos (Portugal), Hugh Torrance (EGLSF), a member EPAS Consultative Committee; and two members from Council’s Secretariat.
The insights, suggestions and successful practices identified during this visit will be compiled into a report for Finnish authorities to implement tailored recommendations. The final report will be published on Council’s website in 2024 for public access.
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