Sports
Human rights in and through sport: the European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter – Sport – www.coe.int
The Council of Europe’s European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter both promote values-based sport, with specific provisions on the protection of human rights in sport.
The European Sports Charter (article 6) states: “All stakeholders shall respect and protect internationally recognised human rights and fundamental freedoms […] of those involved in or exposed to sport-related activities […].”
The Olympic Charter’s Fundamental Principles of Olympism, underlines : “The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have access to the practice of sport, without discrimination of any kind in respect of internationally recognised human rights […]. The Olympic spirit requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.”
In the wake of the Paris Olympic Games, the protection human rights in and through sport takes centre stage. Through international co-operation and multilateralism, this world-wide celebration of sporting values can be also a vehicle for the safeguarding of human rights.
On the occasion of the Olympic Torch Relay, the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) inaugurated an exhibition on values-based sport, and in particular on the common values of the European Sports Charter and the Olympic Charter. The exhibition will remain on display outside the Council of Europe’s Agora building in Strasbourg until September 2024. Each week, one of the panels of the exhibition will be revealed on the Sport Division’s X account @CoE_Sports. Follow us to learn more!