The SPORTVISION2012 conference, organised by the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU together with partners from the sports movement and held in Copenhagen on 19-20 March 2012, gathered 375 international participants with diverse backgrounds to discuss challenges and solutions in sport for all in Europe. Among the many important messages and recommendations presented at the conference, the following can be highlighted. In relation to the topic of VOLUNTEERING it was stressed that voluntary activities constitute a cornerstone in grassroots sports and that there is a need to: Recognize and support voluntary work, including through removing barriers and regulations which complicate doing voluntary work.Acknowledge the economic contribution and nourish the social capital associated with volunteering in order to increase the societal and economic impact of volunteering.Promote and support volunteering in relevant national and international life-long learning strategies and programmes, and further the validation of competences acquired in non-formal and informal learning through volunteering. In relation to the topic of FITNESS DOPING it was stressed that in order to effectively combat fitness doping, which threatens the health of individual users and the security of sport for all environments, there is a need to:Strengthen international coordination in the fight against fitness doping, in particular through the development of partnerships and practices for exchange of information and good practices between anti-doping organizations, sports associations, the health and fitness industry, national law enforcement agencies and relevant international actors.Ensure adequate legislation in relation to the fight against illicit doping substances that reflects the seriousness of the issue and enables effective investigations.Take into account in the public health and treatment system the complex and adverse health effects of misuse of doping substances.  In relation to the topic of FINANCING AND HEALTH it was stressed that in order to realise the great societal potentials of sport for all there is a need to: Strengthen the role of the EU and its Member States, in their respective spheres of competence, in furthering grassroots sport, including through political agenda-setting at international, national and local level.Exploit the possibilities to get more Europeans to practise sport and be physically active in order to improve and strengthen public health and social inclusion.Acknowledge that sport for all can contribute to reaching important societal goals, including a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy. PDF version here below: 

The SportVision2012 conference has been used for launches of several new initiatives: MOVE WEEK - which is an annual European wide campaign week promoting sport and physical activity and their positive impact on European societies. MEP Santiago Fisas also mentioned that the earlier proposed European Day of Sport indeed might be better seen as a week of activity.  see more here: http://moveweek.eu/ European Championship in Club Innovation - an initiative by Danish Gymnastics and Sport Associations to further development where it matters most – at club, grassroots sport level. Find more at the www.isca-web.org website. Good Governance theme page of Play the Game launched – see the page here:http://www.playthegame.org/knowledge-bank/theme-pages/action-for-good-governance-in-international-sports-organisations.html

Finally the Sportvision2012 Conference hosted within the framework of the Danish EU Presidency kicked-off on Monday 19/03/2012 at Bella. The opening keynote addresses were delivered by top EU Executives including the chairman of the European Council of Ministers, the European Commissioner responsible for Sport and the rapporteur on Sport of the European Parliament.

Yet another round of thoughts and inspiration from the SPORTVISION2012 Conference is in the box have a look at the most recent videos below.