Give Sport a Say Engages Participants at the TAFISA World Congress
The Give Sport a Say project continued its mission of strengthening civic engagement through sport during the TAFISA World Congress in Prague, where participants from across Europe explored how sport can contribute to democratic participation, European values, and active citizenship.
Co-funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme, Give Sport a Say aims to empower citizens, athletes, and sport organisations to engage more actively in policy discussions and better understand European decision-making processes. Building on the project's broader objectives, the activities at the TAFISA World Congress created interactive opportunities for participants to reflect on EU values and their own role as active citizens.
A special Give Sport a Say event was organised during the TAFISA European Members Meeting on 13 May. The session began with an activation activity that encouraged participants to position themselves in the room according to statements such as "I feel like an EU citizen," sparking discussion on identity, belonging, and civic participation.
The project was then presented by OPES, introducing its goals and upcoming activities. Participants also engaged with informative totems featuring quizzes and accessible information about the EU, its institutions, and values. The walk-around format encouraged informal conversations and peer learning.
Throughout the Congress, Give Sport a Say maintained a visible presence in the Poster Area and EU Action Corner, offering short, interactive activities in an accessible and playful way. Participants were also invited to share feedback via a dedicated box and an EU survey aimed at gathering insights on citizens' awareness of rights, justice, and EU values. As one participant noted: "Just taking the survey was already interesting, it asked about some rights I have as an EU citizen that I didn't even know about".
As part of the Congress programme, Give Sport a Say also facilitated two interviews with key European sport policy actors. Stanislas Frossard, Head of the Sport Division of the Council of Europe, reflected on the role of the Council of Europe, the importance of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS), and how sport can strengthen democratic participation and the promotion of European values at all levels of society. When asked about the current priorities of the Council of Europe, Frossard highlighted safeguarding in sport as a key focus area, with particular emphasis on the protection of children from violence. He noted that this issue is currently very high on the agenda and will also be addressed at the upcoming ministerial meeting at the beginning of November.
You can watch the full interview with Stanislas Frossard below or on Youtube.
In a second interview, Yves Le Lostecque, former Head of the Sport Unit at the European Commission and former Head of the Erasmus Mundus and Sport Unit at the EACEA, discussed the role of EU sport policy in supporting grassroots organisations and citizens, highlighting the relevance of Erasmus+ projects, the connection between sport and EU values, and the importance of strengthening dialogue between policy and practice. When asked about the Give Sport a Say project, he emphasised the importance of initiatives like this, noting that the EU can sometimes feel "too far away" from citizens. Projects such as Give Sport a Say help bridge this gap by connecting institutions and policymakers more directly with citizens.
You can watch the full interview with Yves Le Lostecque below or on Youtube.
By combining sport, participation, and education, the project continues to demonstrate how grassroots sport can serve as a powerful platform for strengthening democracy and giving citizens a real say in the future of Europe.
Disclaimer: "Give Sport a Say: give citizens a real say for the future of the EU in and through sports" is co-funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme, within the Citizens Engagement call.
