María José Free intervenes in the fifteenth European Conference of sports ministers of the board of Europa being held in Tbilisi (Georgia)
- This is the first time in 18 years that a representative of the Spanish government attending this event
- Has participated in two panels on “ the protection of human rights in sport: obligations and shared responsibilities ” and “ The fight against corruption in sport: enlargement of actions ”
The president of the High Council of sports, María José Free, has attended this morning to the fifteenth European Conference of ministers of sport that organizes the council of europe and that is taking place in Tbilisi (Georgia). This is the first time in 18 years that a representative of the Spanish government goes to this event which is celebrated with a biannual basis.
There has participated in two panels on “ the protection of human rights in sport: obligations and shared responsibilities ” and “ The fight against corruption in sport: enlargement of actions. ”
The protection of human rights in sport
The president of CSD has explained that the Spanish government based its actions in the field of defence of human rights on the Agenda 2030 of nations united which provides 17 goals, of which 6 are directly related to sport: to improve health, quality education, gender equality, reducing inequality, the promotion of tolerance and respect, and partnerships between agencies to its achievement.
During his speech, Free has been breaking down the proceedings of the executive with regard to these objectives. Thus, in the area of health improvement referred to the “ Survey of sports habits ” as a reference document to develop policies for action, the European Week of sport in conjunction with the European commission, and implementing policies to combat doping and a plan of support for the health of athletes.
With regard to education, has put in value the work developed by the College Sports lessons (CSED), whose main objective is to technical training that sports leadership, accountability, professional rigour and respect for the values of fair play as signs of identity of their professional practice.
Regarding the fight for gender equality, Free has made clear that “ is one of the priority lines of action ” of Higher Council of sports, and that already has an Office exclusively dedicated to women and sport to manage a line of aid for Spanish sports federations to develop their programmes and another line directly addressed to the athletes to help them to reconcile their professional sports and life.
On inequality in sport and promoting tolerance and respect of persons, explained that the agency has launched a working group to develop a plan of Sport Inclusive which is expected to take a final design within approximately four months. In Addition, has influenced the importance of “ sports habits Poll ” to detect and combat misconduct, the practice of sport.
And, finally, in relation to alliances to achieve these goals, told the four lines that will follow the CSD: the signature of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUS) with different countries to establish synergies to improve policies promoting physical activity and sport in all tracks; cooperation with the Ibero-American Council of sport (CID) as a bridge connecting Europa with Innovation; the maintenance of strategic relations of cooperation with international agencies in different Areas such as the UNESCO, WADA, the secretary General for Innovation, professional leagues, National Sports Federations and international among others …; and cooperation with the council of Europa as a cornerstone of work associations.
The fight against corruption in sport
In the second intervention on the fight against corruption in sport, María José Free alluded to transparency and good governance, Anti-Violence Convention and match-fixing.
On the first point, the president of CSD reminded that the sports federations are incorporated into the official rules on transparency and, as such, are bound to the application of a code of good governance in order to access the granting of public aid.
Anti-Violence on the convention, Free has explained that the congress of Members has adopted the opinion of the foreign affairs committee on this agreement by which the ratification by Spain is “ imminent ”.
Finally, on the match-fixing, Spain has reminded that form part of different international working groups that aim to combat this practice, as the so-called Copenhague group or the informal working group of the international association against corruption in sport ("IPACS") created within the OCDE last year.
With regard to the proceedings at the national level, explained that it takes time working on the creation of a coordinating body for this purpose: “ the commercialization of sporting spectacle can never protect corrupt practices which are just a illicit economic performance. These behaviors, threaten not only to sport – stain their values and the deportistas-, compromise ethics of the entire society ”.