25/09/2026 Parliamentary Alliance for Good Governance and Integrity in Sport
Agnes Prammer (Austria, SOC), Chairperson of the Parliamentary Alliance on Good Governance and Integrity in Sport, made today the following statement on European School Sport Day:
“On European School Sport Day, we are reminded that access to sport is an essential part of a child’s development and well-being. Sport at school can foster physical and mental health, confidence, teamwork and respect for others, while creating opportunities for inclusion and participation.
But participation alone is not enough. Every child should be able to practise sport in an environment that is safe, inclusive and respectful of their human rights.
This principle is at the heart of the Parliamentary Assembly’s work. In its 2025 resolution on “Protecting human rights in and through sport: obligations and shared responsibilities”, the Assembly called for stronger protection against abuse and discrimination in sport, with particular attention to children and other vulnerable persons. It stressed the need for safeguarding policies, appropriate training and safe sport environments at all levels of sport.
These principles are especially important in schools, where sport can play a powerful role in shaping young people’s attitudes towards equality, diversity and respect. No child should be excluded, humiliated or exposed to abuse in the pursuit of sporting performance.
The Council of Europe has an important role to play in promoting this approach, including through the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport and initiatives such as Start to Talk, which places child safeguarding at the centre of sport. The Assembly has called for these efforts to be strengthened and for human rights standards to be embedded across all levels of sport.
On this European Day, our message is therefore simple: every child should have the opportunity to discover the benefits of sport, regardless of gender, ability, background or level of performance, and every child has the right to do so in a safe and respectful environment.”