The EU executive is commissioning an independent study into the equal treatment of non-nationals regarding access to individual sports competitions and sports activities.
The initiative follows a "growing number of questions and complaints" tabled by European citizens confused about access restrictions for various sports activities in certain member states.
The study's contractors have been asked to target the main sports federations organising and structuring sport at international, European, national, regional and local levels. The aim is to identify and analyse the conditions and objectives of discrimination as well as its compatibility with the discriminatory provisions in the Community legal framework.
The Commission recognises "the extreme complexity" of the issue and asks the contractor to take into account the diversity and individual characteristics of the different sporting disciplines when analysing the discrimination identified.
The EU executive also underlines that the organisation of sport and competition in member states "is part of the historical and cultural background of the European approach to sport," stressing that national teams play an "essential role" by ensuring solidarity with grassroots sport and providing identity.
The study should be ready by end of 2010 and is expected to provide recommendations for alternative solutions to comply with Community law.
