Press Conference of Minister Giersz
The entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon (1 December 2009) has significant implications for sports communities across Europe. Article 165 of the Treaty, relating to sport and its specificity, for the first time in history makes sport an area of competence of the European Union. This fact is of crucial importance in the context of Poland’s preparations for taking over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, to last from 1 July to 31 December 2011. First and foremost, the subject of sport has been included in the scope of work of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council.
During Poland’s six-month presidency of the EU Council, the priority in the field of sport will be Development of new European initiatives in the field of sport.
Within the implementation of this priority, Poland intends to contribute to the development of new EU competencies by tackling the following urgent topics:
- Threats to the integrity of sport
- The social dimension of sport
- Sports policy based on economic facts
– In tackling the issue of threats to the integrity of sport Poland is going to focus on combating doping in sport and match-fixing, which currently constitute the greatest threats to sport – said Adam Giersz, Minister of Sport and Tourism.
Sport as an area of social activity is largely based on voluntary work. Sport also significantly contributes to social cohesion and greater integration of societies. Therefore, Poland, in implementing its activities within the celebrations of the European Year of Volunteering, will focus on the promotion of sports volunteering, on combating social exclusion through sport, and on developing cooperation with Eastern Partnership countries (Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Moldova).
– In covering the priority topic “The social dimension of sport” Poland is going to propose, during its Presidency, the adoption by the Council of the EU of Conclusions on sports volunteering, emphasized Minister Giersz.
Sport is a dynamically developing sector of the economy; yet, it is often underestimated by policy-makers both at the EU and national levels. Therefore, Poland has decided to focus on the topic emphasising the economic potential of sport.
– To be a credible promoter of this topic we have compiled a national Sport Satellite Account, said Minister of Sport and Tourism Adam Giersz.
The account compiled for Poland is based on the latest available statistics. Its value has been determined as 1.96% GDP.
In connection with increased spending on sport and the organisation of the UEFA EURO 2012TM Championship, the figure will certainly increase over the next years. The impact of EURO 2012 on the national economy is going to be presented at the Informal Meeting of Ministers responsible for Sport to be held in Cracow.
A study on the Sport Satellite Account was carried out for the Ministry of Sport and Tourism by the Central Statistical Office’s Institute for Public Statistics. The research team was headed by Prof. Barbara Liberda.
During Poland’s Presidency in 2011, the Ministry of Sport and Tourism plans to organise the following meetings in the area of sport:
- Experts’ meeting: social dimension of sport (18-19 July 2011, Wroclaw)
- International conference: Volunteering in Sport (13-14 September 2011, Warsaw)
- Informal Meeting of Ministers responsible for Sport (13-14 October 2011, Cracow)
- Meeting of European Sport Directors (14-16 December 2011, Gdańsk).