European Year of Education through Sport

The European Union has designated 2004 - the year the Olympic Games will be held in Athens - as the European Year of Education Through Sport.

The Year aims to open up sport and make it accessible to all citizens so that it can contribute to strengthening education policies, and to improve the partnership between the worlds of education and sport.

A budget of €11.5 million will be available to support meetings, campaigns and events held to further the aims of the Year throughout the European Union.

Cooperation between educational institutions and sports organisations will be promoted. The values of sport will be harnessed to help young people develop their physical prowess and readiness for personal effort as well as social abilities such as teamwork, solidarity, tolerance and fair play.

Awareness will be raised of the positive contribution that voluntary activities make to non-formal education, and the educational value of pupil mobility and exchanges through sporting contacts, as part of school activity, will be promoted.

The Year also aims to create a better balance between intellectual and physical activity in school life by encouraging sport in school.

Meetings and events will be organised to raise awareness about education through sport, and there will be information campaigns and educational competitions highlighting achievements and experiences on the themes of the Year.

An online database will also be set up to disseminate good practice across member states for the use of sport as a tool for education and, in particular, for promoting the social integration of disadvantaged groups.

Local, regional, national or transnational actions may qualify for funding from the Community, covering up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the total cost, for events, information campaigns, competitions and studies connected with the Year's themes.