What the EU does
Sport is part of daily life for millions of Europeans. It helps people stay healthy, learn, connect with others, and even boosts innovation and the economy.
Sport is today seen as a public good and a valuable European asset – socially, economically, politically, and culturally.
The European Commission promotes sport in the EU by
- developing a European sport model that integrates the economic, social, and educational value of sport
- supporting EU countries in coordinating their national sport policies, in line with the European Union Work Plan for Sport (2024-2027)
- providing funding opportunities for sport projects and initiatives through programmes such as Erasmus+
- promoting benefits of sport and physical activity through EU-wide campaigns such as the European Week of Sport or the #BeActive EU Sport Awards
- creating spaces for dialogue and sharing good practices among sport stakeholders, through initiatives like the EU Sport Forum or the SHARE 2.0 initiative
Facts about sport policy
Areas of action
Priorities, objectives, and activities of the EU’s sport policy
The EU's biggest sporting initiative, promoting an active lifestyle across Europe and beyond
Celebrating sport initiatives and inspiring individuals
Collaboration and knowledge exchange in the field of sport
Annual event about the Erasmus+ sport programme
The Commission’s annual flagship sport event
Initiatives and statistics on physical activity and health in the EU
Europe’s culture of sport: solidarity-based, open, federation-led sport system
Key achievements
- Every year, the sport strand of the Erasmus+ programme provides more than €80 million to support sport projects and initiatives, boosting inclusion, participation, and capacity-building across the sector.
- Since 2023, a new Erasmus+ action has enabled more than 3,300 coaches and sport professionals across Europe to take part in mobility experiences abroad for their professional development.
- In 2025, the European Week of Sport brough together over 15 million people in more than 80,000 activities across nearly 40 countries.
- EU countries are increasingly applying the EU Physical Activity Guidelines. Between 2015 and 2024, the share of goals achieved improved from about 65% to nearly 82%.
In focus
On 9 May 2026, Europe Day was also celebrated in sports, all around the EU. Football, basketball, volleyball, and many more were played by athletes wearing European colours during their matches.
Thank you to athletes, clubs, and fans who celebrate Europe in sports, not just on Europe Day, but every day.
This page was last updated on 31 March 2026