Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi has been appointed as the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) rapporteur for the Culture and Education Committee on the integrated approach to “Sport Policy: good governance, mobility and integrity”. Since last legislature, MEP Mizzi has been closely tracking the issue, taking a leading role in her own political group and promoting physical activities and sport as one of the CULT Committee's main political priorities.
Marlene Mizzi said: “Sport plays an important role for billions of people throughout the world. We all follow, at the moment, the European football championship and later this year we will do the same with Summer Olympics games in Rio. Unfortunately, when we have big sport events, we also see the ugly side of the sports industry with big corruption scandals, doping scandals, match fixing, violence inside the stadiums and many other concerns of public health, security and safety."
MEP Marlene Mizzi said that International and European sport competitions and events, and the sport sector in general, need to be an example of integrity, transparency and good governance including accountability and sustainability. This Report comes at the right moment, just before starting the negotiations on the new European plan for sport, as the current one expires in 2017”.
“As the S&D spokesperson, I will ensure that loopholes in the EU policy, such as the fight against doping, match fixing and illegal betting are addressed. I will also ensure that development for young sportspersons and protection of minors are included so that high-level sport does not affect the advancement of young sportsmen. We need effective actions to fight corruption and promote ethics in sport, with strict rules on financial supervision and accountability.” said MEP Mizzi.
“We also need to promote more sport activities at school and ensure equal access to sport and physical activities for all and in particular for vulnerable groups in society, such as children and disabled people. On those lines, we need to further emphasise the importance of events such as the Special Olympic games, which are an excellent example of how sports can improve social inclusion of disadvantaged groups into the society. In general, it is important to instil a sports friendly mentality and abide by the mantra of “mens sana in corpore sano”, said MEP Mizzi