Give Sport a Say Project Kicks Off

The Give Sport a Say project officially launched with three dynamic online kick-off meetings held between 10 and 24 March 2026. Co-funded by the European Union, the project aims to harness the power of grassroots sport to strengthen the connection between citizens and policy-makers across Europe.

Implemented under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, the project is grounded in the belief that sport provides one of the most accessible and impactful environments for promoting EU fundamental values. At a time when civic participation remains a challenge across Europe, strengthening citizens' understanding of democracy, rights, and policy-making processes is more important than ever. By engaging athletes, officials, and sport organisations, Give Sport a Say seeks to transform local sport settings into spaces for active citizenship, democratic participation, and meaningful dialogue.

Structured over a two-year period, the project follows a clear and strategic approach built around three key phases:

• Inform – assessing current awareness of EU priorities while making decision-making processes more accessible and understandable
• Build Capacity – strengthening knowledge of democracy and human rights, alongside developing practical advocacy skills
• Engage – empowering citizens to actively participate in policy discussions and contribute ideas to the future of EU sport policy

Through this framework, the project will deliver 16 events across Europe, embedded within existing sport, education, and governance events. This approach ensures that a wide and diverse audience is reached and brings policy dialogue closer to where people already engage. TAFISA will integrate elements of the project into the TAFISA World Congress in Prague and the European Sport for All Games in Limerick

Led by the Italian Organisation for Sports Education from Italy (OPES,) the project brings together a consortium of seven partners committed to driving social change through sport: EAS: European Athlete As Student (Malta), ENSE: European Network of Sport Education (Austria), EU Sport Link (Belgium), EUSA Institute (Slovenia) and UFEC: Sports Federation Union of Catalonia (Spain). TAFISA welcomes initiatives like Give Sport a Say, which highlight the potential of sport as a platform for civic engagement and societal development.

By bridging sport, policy, and citizen participation, Give Sport a Say contributes to a more inclusive, informed, and participatory future for Europe.

 Disclaimer: "Give Sport a Say: give citizens a real say for the future of the EU in and through sports" project is co-funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme, within the Citizens engagement call.