Sport movement optimistic despite EU Treaty setback 

The sports movement which has been "working and lobbying hard" to make EU competence on sport a reality still believes this will happen, "be it in Lisbon Treaty or something else", said Michael Trinker, the chair of the European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation's (ENGSO ) EU working group when asked how the movement felt the Irish rejection of the Lisbon Treaty would affect the EU's hailed new competence.

But the organisation is disappointed that the current ratification difficulties will further delay the implementation of such powers, he added. 

ENGSO will continue its work on both the EU Treaty and the implementation of the EU White Paper on Sports. As a next step, it is set to present examples of best practice on the use of sport in achieving a number of objectives such as, for example, public health or social inclusion.

A catalogue showcasing examples of member states' best practices in the use of sport for increased health is already being prepared. The answers of a questionnaire sent out in spring 2008 are now being processed and the catalogue should be ready for publication by the organisation's annual forum in Stockholm at the end of October.

The publication will outline a number of examples of national initiatives resulting from joint efforts between sports organisations and public authorities to make people physically more active and increase access to sport. The NGO hopes the catalogue will provide "food for thought" and eventually trigger a snowball effect, giving fresh impetus to new sport and health initiatives throughout the EU 27.

ENGSO is also set to come up with examples of best practice regarding the role of volunteering in sport this year. It is currently analysing the situation in the EU 27 to see how different member states motivate and compensate volunteering in the sector. 

In 2009, the NGO is set to focus on identifying best practices for social inclusion and making the functioning and management of non-professional sport associations more professional. 

In order to conduct its 2008 activities, ENGSO received an EU grant through the bloc's Active Citizenship programme (2007-2013). This grant is the first of its kind for a sports organisation under the initiative, which aims to bring EU programmes closer to the people and strengthen European identity.