ENGSO – European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation – is constituted by the national umbrella organizations of sport in the whole Europe, which means the existing national sport confederations, Olympic Committees or a merger of these two.

ENGSO is the only organisation to represent the sport of Europe in the broadest sense – everything from children and youth sport over competitive and recreational sports for adult people to sport for disabled. ENGSO is an independent non profit organisation based on democratically adopted statutes and regulations.

ENGSO served as a strong bridge-building organisation between countries, sport organisations and between people involved with sports.

ENGSO is recognised by the IOC and is the one and only sport organisation given the so-called “participatory and consultative” status of the Council of Europe.

President of this organisation is Bengt Sevelius, Swedish Sports Confederation, Vice-President Birgitta Kervinen, Finnish Sports Confederation and the Secretariat is located in the Olympic Committee of Serbia and Montenegro under the lead of Secretary General, Predrag Manojlovic.

The Malta Olympic Committee has generously taken on board to organise the ENGSO 14th General Assembly. The President of the Malta Olympic Committee, Mr Justice Lino Faruggia Sacco, was one of the constructors of the ENGSO Statutes adopted in 1995, and he served as an active member of our Executive Committee 1995-1999.

In the preparation of the coming General Assembly, the Vice-President Julian Pace-Bonello, and Secretary General, Joseph Cassar, have been very supportive and helpful which we highly appreciate.

Important items on the agenda are “ENGSO Policy and Actions in Relation to EU and the Council of Europe”, the youth sport development and to give youngsters a “real say” in decision-making bodies on all levels of sport.

The ENGSO Youth – our independent Youth Committee consisting of youngsters up to 35 years, and lead by Jan Holze, German Sports Confederation, has this as their special challenge.

Another important project to be discussed “ENGSO Mentoring and Leadership Programme for Women” is aimed to focus on recruitment of women to leadership in sports, with special support and inspiration through mentoring.

High importance during the General Assembly is given to the project “ENGSO in the Future”, a development work aimed at making ENGSO known as a strong European voice of sport in political matters, developing the bridge-building role of ENGSO and the quality in sport activities as well as management of sport. Results are to be reported at the General Assembly 2007.

Further items on the agenda are, for example, membership applications, financial questions and candidatures for hosting future General Assemblies and Fora. Countries putting forward their bids are Hungary, Turkey, France, Finland and Faeroe Islands.

Perhaps more in connection with the General Assembly, a Pre-Seminar on EU matters is organised on Friday, 5 May, between 10am and 3pm. This Pre-Seminar is open to all interested delegates and members of the Malta Olympic Committee.

The main items of the EU Pre-Seminar will be the following: “ENGSO Expectation on EU”, “ENGSO Action Plan in EU Matters 2006-2007”, current issues as the ambitions of the Austrian and Finnish EU Presidencies, Regional EU Policy and Sports, as well as reports of member organisations in matters dealing with EU and lotteries, physical education and sport as health promoter.

Besides the General Assembly and the EU Pre-Seminar, which takes place at Grand Hotel Mercure San Antonio in St. Paul’s Bay, we look forward to learn more about the sport and history of Malta… and hopefully to find time to visit famous historical places and buildings of Malta.

‘Malta u Dinja tal-Hames Crieki’

Next Sunday 7 May at 1.05pm on 103FM (RTK), this programme will feature the Malta Badminton Association, elite athletes Angela Galea (Swimming) and Neil Agius (Swimming), the MOC Director of Finance David Azzopardi and medical advice.

Olympic Day Run 2006 presented by McDonalds

Olympic Day Run, Sunday, 25th June, 2.5K, 5K and 10K St. Julians/Sliema. Presented by McDonalds and organised in collaboration with the Malta Amateurs Athletics Association. Participation is free of charge.

Official Olympic Day Run T-shirts and certificates will be given to all participants. Parents are encouraged to run the 2.5k with their children; clubs, schools, local councils, companies etc are encouraged to form teams for the 5k/10k.

More information can be obtained from our website www.nocmalta.org or by email [email protected].

Bengt Sevelius

ENGSO President