Governance in European Sport, Gender Equality, and Dual Careers Discussed at a Three-Day Conference
From October 8 to 10, 2024, Porto hosted the 18th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers Responsible for Sport, organised by EPAS (Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport) and the Portuguese Government. This gathering brought together ministers from 50 countries, members of the Council of Europe or EPAS, as well as signatories of the European Cultural Convention, under the theme "Governance and Management in Sport: Supporting a New Approach to Reflect its Social Significance."
Opening Panel: Governance and Transparency in Sport
The conference's opening session featured high representatives from European institutions and the Portuguese government. The central focus of the debate was on the need for transparent, ethical, and inclusive management in sport, highlighting the crucial role of public policy and dialogue among various stakeholders.
Bjorn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, stressed the importance of the current moment: "Athletes are pushing the boundaries of what is possible, breaking records, and bringing joy. The Conference of Ministers responsible for sport comes at a unique moment, especially after UEFA Euro in Germany. We have an opportunity to capitalise on this momentum and take another step toward good governance in sport. We want to ensure that sporting organisations have the autonomy to innovate, thrive, and grow, but it is also essential to guarantee that the legal and governance frameworks are fair, inclusive, and transparent."
Pedro Duarte, Portugal's Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, highlighted the Portuguese government's commitment to promoting greater transparency and inclusion in sport, especially regarding gender equality and opportunities for people with disabilities. "The Portuguese government is committed to creating mechanisms that bring more transparency and inclusion to sport, promoting gender equality and opportunities for people with disabilities. We have set several priorities: implementing legislative measures to ensure parity in the governing bodies of sports federations; strengthening the means to prevent and combat doping and match-fixing; and expanding the high-performance support network by promoting dual careers, which is already underway in higher education with the UAARE Superior project. Reviewing the legal framework for sport, from the status of voluntary leaders to the training of coaches, will also be one of our priorities."
Linda Helleland, Chair of the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, reinforced the importance of dialogue between public authorities, the sports movement, local federations, athletes, and international organisations: "Dialogue does not solve all problems, but collaborative governance and national and international cooperation can bring about more effective solutions. We must work together to strengthen the autonomy of sport and achieve the vision of the European Sports Charter: a sport based on values, promoting human rights, and accessible to all."
The final day focused on two major areas of discussion: equality in sport and dual careers, featuring prominent figures in the world of sport.
Pedro Dias, Secretary of State for Sport, opened this panel by stating, "If we want to make a difference in these two areas, it is up to us, the leaders, to provide these opportunities and lead these processes."
"Solutions for Greater Leadership of Women in Sport: Overcoming Barriers and Building Bridges" featured a presentation by Annamarie Phelps, Chair of the UK Secretariat, Co-Chair of the Global Executive, International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG), and was moderated by Francine Hetherington Raveney, Deputy Executive Secretary of EPAS. Panel speakers included Paoline Ekambi, President and Co-Founder of the Sportail Community and Former Captain of the French Basketball Team, Don McPherson, former professional NFL (National Football League) and CFL (Canadian Football League) football player, Ticha Penicheiro, former WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) professional player, and André Seabra, Director of the Portugal Football School.
Vitor Pardal, National Coordinator of School High-Performance Units, presented the second panel "Navigating Dual Careers in Sport: Proven Strategies and Future Paths", moderated by Laura Capranica, European Athlete Student.
Guest speakers invited to discuss this topic included Duarte Nuno Lopes, dual career specialist; Gévrise Emane, Athlete Lifestyle Manager at the National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance; Sofia Ramalho, manager of the SLBenfica Women's Basketball Team; Andrej Pisl, Communications & Project Manager, European University Sports Association; and Andy Criere Martin, Professional Surfer.
Over three days, the conference served as a crucial platform for exchanging experiences and defining joint strategies for better governance in European sport, with a commitment to strengthening the values of transparency, inclusion, and ethics in sporting practices.