Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-05-13-Speech-1-116"
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"en.20020513.10.1-116"2
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"Over the centuries, sport has played an important role in our lives. Maybe this is overrating it a little. Who does not remember the sports days at school when we were young, in which everyone had to take part, whether they were sporty or not? They gave us a good feeling afterwards, a feeling of solidarity, and that is actually what we want to work on together this year. I therefore welcome the proposal to pronounce 2004 European Year of Education through Sport as an excellent initiative, and I should like to thank Mrs Pack for the thoroughness with which she has studied the proposal. I agree with her that the title sounds a little contrived. My personal opinion is that the title is formally correct of course, for sport does not have its own legal basis. A number of Member States were opposed to it, and in this way, a compromise can be struck after all. In my view, it also emphasises precisely the educational side of sport, something which I very much applaud.
Nevertheless, I should like to make a few observations with regard to this plan. Sport at school is an excellent way of teaching children all kinds of human values, such as fair play, team spirit and tolerance; sport can even play a role in creating solidarity and understanding for your fellow human beings, and this is more than ever essential. You will understand where I am coming from, but sport helps in the fight against xenophobia and vandalism, certainly if the children in school teams are able to take part in competitions between schools, and at regional, national and also European level, as Mrs Pack suggests. A fine concept, whereby the European idea is spread.
The objections my group has in this connection pertain to the idea that such competitions should be organised and funded by the Commission. The Commission does not have the budget for competitions of this kind, and in my view, it is not up to the Commission to organise these. I take the view that this would sooner be a role for national Olympic committees.
Another point I should like to make is the fact that this initiative should not be restricted to one year. Sound initiatives should be followed up. I am confident, however, that Mrs Reding is already thinking along those lines and will unquestionably work on this."@en1
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