European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Speech by Commissioner Micallef at the EU Sport Forum Paphos, 16 April 2026 Dear friends of sport, sport organisations, federations, coaches, athletes, and public authorities, Good morning. It is a pleasure to open this second day of the 2026 EU Sport Forum. I am happy to have seen some of you already this morning in our run. This is the best way to start the day ...
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Speech by Commissioner Micallef at the EU Sport Forum Paphos, 16 April 2026 Dear friends of sport, sport organisations, federations, coaches, athletes, and public authorities, Good morning. It is a pleasure to open this second day of the 2026 EU Sport Forum. I am happy to have seen some of you already this morning in our run. This is the best way to start the day isn't it? By being active! This forum brings together people who care deeply about sport, as I do. So today, I want to speak frankly and openly. As one does with friends. Starting by setting the context. Because this helps us understand the responsibility that sport carries. Right now, the world is marked by instability, uncertainty, and conflict. In Kyiv, everyday life has been reshaped by the war. We are also witnessing instability in the Middle East. Today, we are in Cyprus, just around 300 kilometres from Beirut. A place where more than a million people have been displaced. Where families have been uprooted, and people were killed. We are not far from these realities. I know that the Lebanese Minister is here with us today. She can speak far better than I can, about what this means on the ground. For those who have lost homes, For those who have lost loved ones, Or those going through tough times in their lives, Sport can offer a sense of normality. A basketball, A football, or a volleyball, takes a completely different meaning. It offers a sense of belonging. Hope. Now, you will hear that sport should remain separate from politics. I agree. Completely. But as stakeholders in sport, you all know that public support, political and financial, is essential. I see it as our public duty to support your work. Because what you do for public health, education and for people, goes far beyond the boundaries of any sports field. That support comes without strings attached. Absolutely. But that does not mean we remain silent on governance, or on the misuse of sport. Because while sport has not sought to compromise politics, too often, politics has compromised sport. There are some examples which speak volumes about this. The 1936 Summer Olympics remain a dark stain on the Olympic Movement. The 1978 FIFA World Cup stands as another example. Football was then used to distract from repression and human rights abuses. These are important lessons for the sporting movement. A sporting movement that will be judged again. This time, by how it responds to the challenges of today. So, my question today is simple. Are you comfortable being associated with aggression and violations of international law? Or will you stand for peace, justice, and freedom, as the sporting world once did in its stand against apartheid in South Africa? Because ultimately, this is what you will be judged on. Let me now turn to the 2026 Winter Olympics. In a few moments we will hear from Kirsty Coventry. An Olympic Champion, President of the IOC and a friend. These were the first Olympic Games I saw in person. And they were fantastic. Italy delivered Games that were well organised, making Italians and Europe proud. A true celebration of excellence, of friendship, and of human potential. I saw joy, emotion, and unity. The very essence of what sport represents. And seeing the European flag alongside national flags was for me particularly emotional. For me, these Games were also full-circle moment. I was able to see what we so often talk about in these halls. Fans from all corners of the world, sharing the same space, sharing emotions, and having a great time. Athletes striving to win and inspiring fans all over the world. This is exactly why our cooperation with the Olympic movement matters. It is built on shared beliefs. And more importantly on a common commitment to promoting sport for all. Over the past year and a half, we have worked closely together and there's so much more that we can do. On education, on strengthening grassroots sport, and on ensuring that our values are upheld in practice. This brings me to my vision for sport. The European Commission will soon present its Communication on the European Sport Model. This model is the foundation of our sporting ecosystem. It's what ensures that sport in Europe remains fair, accessible, and rooted in communities. That is why we defend it so strongly. And why strengthening it must remain a priority. This model is under pressure. From poor governance. From excessive commercialisation. From profit-driven breakaway competitions. From ownership structures that risk disconnecting clubs from the communities that built them. This does not mean we resist change. But it does mean we must shape it. And let me be equally clear: this Communication will not solve everything. Our competences in sport, defined by the Treaties, are what they are. But within those limits, we can still do a lot. We must support sport through investment. We have to recognise its role in health, education, and social cohesion. And we must mobilise and organise to use our voice. To call out decisions that risk distancing sport from its communities, while recognising those who put fans first. When matches were at risk of being moved thousands of kilometres away from supporters, I made it clear that this was not acceptable. And I welcome those that some leagues listened and reconsidered. There are also other positive examples to build on from governing bodies like FIBA, the EHF, and UEFA, whose “Fans First” approach shows that it is possible to put supporters at the centre from the outset. Because ultimately, these debates come down to a simple question: who is sport for? And it is a question on which we must continue to be clear and to speak out. Let me also highlight other priorities I want to focus on in this Communication, beyond issues related to excessive commercialisation. There are four priorities that I want to focus on today. If there is one word that the sport movement and stakeholders agree on, it is this. The sporting pyramid depends on this support, from elite to grassroots. With a few exceptions, notably European football, this is increasingly becoming a fiction. And it is the grassroots organisations that feel it first. But over time, this will also negatively impact elite sport in Europe. Second: Volunteers. Anyone who has been part of a sports organisation knows what volunteers mean to sport. In my childhood football club, I remember a man called Joseph. He used to help raise funds, set up sessions, organise training, and coordinate logistics. People like him are unsung heroes of sport. Today, especially after COVID, we are facing a volunteering crisis in Europe. It is quiet, structural and underreported. Third: Athlete welfare. Especially the mental wellbeing of athletes. This is a governance test for the sporting movement. Athletes at elite and semi-professional levels are increasingly vocal about burnout, overcrowded match calendars, social media scrutiny, and inadequate psychological support. Finally, fourth: funding and support. EU funding can be used to support infrastructural investment. EU health funding must better integrate sport. EU social funding should also support sport. But the main implementing instrument for this Communication remains Erasmus+. We need stable, predictable funding to support grassroots sport. To conclude this point, I want to thank all of you who contributed to the consultations. We listened carefully, because we wanted to build this together with you. Before I conclude, I have two further points. First: the Council Recommendation on Health-Enhancing Physical Activity. Since 2013, this helped Member States put in place national policies promoting physical activity. WHO Europe reports show progress in implementation. The number of agreed indicators being met increased over the past decade. But there's still much more to do. Half of Europeans still do not engage in any form of regular physical activity. And in many countries, the trend is not improving. I come from the most obese country in Europe. [2 out of every 3 adults are overweight or obese. And for children the numbers are even more shocking.] Honestly, I struggle to understand this. When people are unfit and unhealthy, we have a wellbeing crisis on our hands. So with this revision, we want to ensure that our common framework is fit for today's reality. We have already started consultations and preparatory work with WHO and HEPA focal points. Our objective is to adopt this early next year. Second: Europe Day and the European Week of Sport. First of all, thank you for making the 10th European Week of Sport a tremendous success. I now want 2026 to be even bigger. And then Europe Day. This is when we celebrate Europe itself. Last year, the most striking examples of this celebration were El Clásico. [I would say that it is the only celebration people still remember today.] Two clubs coming together to show their commitment to Europe and its values, flying the European flag with pride on one of the biggest sporting stages in the world. This year, I want more. I want to see this spirit spread across the continent. From Cyprus to Portugal. Across all sports. From football to basketball and aquatics. Around Europe Day, I want to see the yellow stars of Europe visible in stadiums, in arenas, and in local clubs. In conclusion, I want to thank you all for your dedication, trust, criticism, the engagement and the open dialogue we have. Never underestimate how important sport is. Because while rules help organise Europe, it is people that hold it together. And for our people, sport plays a significant role in their lives, giving them purpose and belonging. That is why I am grateful to be part of this conversation with you. Thank you. SPEECH/26/832
Speech Brief