A short outline of the upcoming guidelines was given at the second European Sport for All congress, which took place in Barcelona at the end of October. The main theme of the congress was to consider ways to move "from theory to practice" on implementing health-enhancing sports programmes, projects and campaigns.
During the congress, the head of the Commission's sports unit, Michael Krejza, said the guidelines, addressed primarily to national policymakers, would be based on a cross-sectoral approach "grouped by policy sectors or fields and by actors". They will promote policies which "translate into increased physical activity in everyday life".
Sectors likely to be addressed in the upcoming guidelines include sport, health, education, transport, environment, urban panning and public safety services, he said, as well as working environment and services for senior citizens.
As member states are likely to pass on the guidelines to sports organisations and associations, they will become relevant to all sports stakeholders.
President of the International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA) Mogens Kirkeby said the guidelines would be an "important tool in the future dialogue" between sport-for-all organisations and the various public sector branches involved in the debate.
The congress conclusions by ISCA and the European Confederation of Sport and Health (CESS) underlined that sport-for-all organisations are "competent partners for cross-sector cooperation" with governments on major societal challenges, such as public health.
