1) The document discusses the role of sports organizations and physical activity in promoting public health. It emphasizes that voluntary leadership in sports contributes greatly to society. 2) Sports organizations like ENGSO work with governments and institutions to increase physical activity levels among the population through urban planning, public sports facilities, and broadening sports offerings for all ages and abilities. 3) Trends like increasing obesity and sedentary lifestyles challenge the sports world to develop innovative programs and recruit more volunteers to engage people in physical activity and promote health.

1. Bengt Sevelius
Honorary President of ENGSO
Barcelona 2008-11-27
“Contribution of European Non
Governmental Sport Organisation (ENGSO)
to health improvement trough physical
activity”

4. The impact of voluntary leadership
”The voluntary sector plays a decisive role in sport and
thus makes a major contribution to the balanced
development of society”
(Informal meeting of Sport Ministers April 1994)
“Sport is a full partner in society and thus should be
considered as an essential element in policy-making,
most particularly in the health, social and economic
fields”
(Sport Ministers meeting, Lisbon, May 1995)

5. ENGSO
ENGSO stands for the European Non-Governmental
Sports Organisation and is constituted by the national
umbrella organisations for sports (sports
confederations, national olympic committees or a
merger of these ones).

6. Governments are expected to create good
preconditions for sport as a vehicle for social change
and the NGO:s deliver the essential elements of
physical activity, social inclusion, health, national profile
and the important added value – fun!

7. European Parliament (EP) adopted 25/9 2008
The ”White Paper” on a strategy for Europe
on nutrition, overweight and obesity – related
issues.

8. The EP calls on member states and on regional
and local authorities to work more actively to
ensure physical activity – particularly though
urban planning and developing public sport
facilities.

9. EU-NETWORKS
• The EU-platform diet, physical activity and health.
ENGSO was the first sport organisation entering the
“EU Platform on diet, physical activity and health”
• The European Commission (EC) has formed a
working group on health

10. • The EC has been drafting “EU-Policy Guidelines
for Physical Activity”
= Policy Actions in support of Health Enhancing PA”
– addressed to policy makers in order to aid them to
formulate cross-sectorial national policies
• To be decided upon by the Ministers of Sport in Nov
08.

11. ENGSO – as a European Umbrella Organisation of
Sports – encourages the National Sports Umbrella
Organisations
to be more active in developing and offering health
enhancing physical activity

12. ENGSO – “Round Table Sport for All”
TAFISA, ISCA, CESS, UESPT, FIEPS –EUROPE,
ECBF and others

13. ENGSO-FORUM (Oct 2008)
Main themes – health and volunteering

14. In my opinion:
The health promoting physical activities within the
sports movement are advancing!
How?
… through broadening the sports offer and
developing existing and new sports to the new
demands and new target groups.
The aim has to be “Sport for All!

15. SPORT FOR ALL!
= for all kind of ambitions – from elit – over sport for
children, youth, adults and elderly to recreational
and rehabilitation trough sports
”Sport for all” as a consept for physical
activity, fitness, recreation and joy.

16. Recommendation 3
Training and competition Guidelines
• Children and young people must be allowed to
participate on the basis of their own wishes, skills,
abilities and needs. ................ that everyone is
given the opportunity to acquire basic sports
skills.
• Priority must be given to the fun and enjoyment
of sport.

19. Recommendation 4
• All sports activities should be led and directed by
qualified and proficient leaders, teachers and
coaches, who have knowledge of children’s and
young people’s physical, psychological, motor
and social development.
• The aim is to qualityassure the sports activities.

24. Trends in society – some example
• Hectic lifestyle (family, job, economy etc.)
• Demanding job situation – “economical crises”
• Increasing commercialisation and privatisation in
sports
• Increasing obesity
• Increasing number of retired persons
• Increasing “non active youngsters”
• Decreasing physical education in schools

26. Physical Activity – trend
“Private Consultation”
contra
“Active Participant in Club Activities”

27. Trends strongly challenging sports world
• The governmental attitude to sport
• Sport developing as a “lifestyle” – motive to broaden
the offer for all ages
• Sport – a means for health promotion
• Physical activities for prevention against and
rehabilitation of injuries/illnesses
For this challenges more volunteers are needed –
particularly on local level!

32. Millions of voluntary leaders create a
positive power, which strongly contributes
to the development of society.

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Voluntary sports leaders, % of populations 2003
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34. Necessary to methodically recruit new
volunteers!
Therefore
- give the youngsters “a real say”!
- give women “a real chance”!
- give elderly the chance to a “come back”!

36. The ”local authorities” of Sweden
– Tasks in the field of sport
• Offer facilities for sport and recreation
• Support the clubs financially – in particular their
children and youth activities
• Secure land for outdoor activities and recreation
as a part of their long-term planning
The local authorities are the far biggest ”sponsors” of
the Swedish sport movement!!!

38. ENGSO has been a partner of an EU-project called
“Sports co-ordinator”
Main aim – to create a vocational education and
training programme for employees at sport centres
Added value – to pave the way for a positive and
welcoming attitude to the visitors (particularly
newcomers) and be ready for active support
(information, advices etc)

39. The Swedish Public Health Policy
The main aim of the Swedish National policy for
public health is to create social conditions that
will ensure good health, on equal terms, for the
entire population

40. “Sport for lifetime”
The strategic plan for promotion of health by physical
activities adopted by the Swedish Sport Confederation
2007
The plan stresses the impact of sport in society and the
domains where we have to act.

41. The following domains strongly affect the Swedish
sports:
Nr 1 Participation and influence in society (democracy)
Nr 9 Increased physical activity - of course
Nr 4 Healthier working life
Nr 5 Healthy and safe environments and products
Nr 10 Good eating habits and safe food
Nr 11 Reduced use of tobacco and alcohol, a society
free from drugs and doping, and reduction of excessive
gambling

42. The local sports clubs form the great potential by
offering a wide range of physical activities and
intensities.
… and while existing in almost every village they could
be a partner of health authorities in promoting “Health
by physical activities adapted to individual needs.

43. An interesting Finnish project for health promoting is
called “Sports Club for health”:
Guidelines for health-promoting sport programmes”, are
formed and advises given.
Behind the project stands the Finnish Sport for All
Association, European Sport for all Network, TAFISA –
Trim and Fitness Sport For All Association

44. Sport in our countries will be what
our local clubs make it.

45. As a summary:
The Sports Movement has to be seen as a strong
partner of the society when planning for increased
physical activity among the whole population

47. Collaboration with scientific institutions on
• Mapping/analysing
– Situations
– Needs of education
– Training as an on-going process etc.
• Evaluation of projects, actions rewarding
systems etc.

50. Grandmothers
-the time of the
rockingchair
is gone!