Reply to Recommendation 1292 (1996) on young people in high-level sport

Reply to Recommendation 1292 (1996) on young people in high-level sport

Communication from the Committee of Ministers

Doc. 7844

5 June 1997

Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 2 June 1997 at the 594th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies

1.The Committee of Ministers welcomes the interest shown by the Parliamentary Assembly in sports questions and in particular its concern to ensure that young people are afforded the best possible conditions to practice sport, including at high-level. The questions examined by the Assembly are proper objects for debate and discussion, and the Committee of Ministers appreciates the positive approach adopted by the Assembly in addressing this question. The Committee for the Development of Sport started its study of it as early as 1980.

2.The Committee of Ministers has itself been aware for some time of the need to devote special consideration to young people and high-level sport and wishes to draw the Parliamentary Assembly's attention in particular to its Recommendation No. R (92) 12 on the European Sports Charter, Recommendation No. R (92) 13 on the Code of Sports Ethics, and Recommendation No. R (95) 16 on Young People and Sport quoted in the Assembly's Recommendation.

3.The Committee of Ministers believes that its work in this area has been consistent with the ideals of the Council of Europe and has offered practical guidance and advice to those who have to deal with this question. In this context, it welcomes the work of other international organisations (for example, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) and of those international sport federations which have already introduced minimum age-limits for international competitions. The Committee of Ministers encourages, as does the Assembly, other international sports federations to act in a similar spirit. National Sports Federations should also complement such regulations by introducing, where appropriate, corresponding age-limits for competitions in the national framework.

4.With regard to the Assembly's specific recommendations in paragraph 8 of Recommendation 1292 (1996), the Committee of Ministers replies as follows:

    4.1.As long as the Council of Europe's comprehensive definition of sport (Recommendation No. R (92) 12, European Sports Charter, Article 2.i) is accepted, sport is a whole. High-level sport requires specific measures, as does recreational sport, but these should be complementary, offering the whole population a range of healthy, ethical, safe activities according to each individual's needs, aptitudes and skills. It is important that those young people who show exceptional promise at a particular sport should have the opportunity to develop that talent and skill.

    4.2.The Code of Sports Ethics (Recommendation No. R (92) 13) and the Manifesto on Young People and Sport (Recommendation No. R (95) 16) already offer European guidelines for all those involved with young people and high level sport. Many sports organisations are concerned with possible negative impacts in their sport, and are taking steps to overcome them. It is, however, primarily their responsibility to deal with technical questions such as training methods and rules: governments can only offer their support to them in taking appropriate initiatives.

    4.3.Governments clearly have a responsibility for the well-being of children, and should accordingly support the efforts of parents, schools, clubs and sports organisations. Many of the latter already adopt a general educational approach to children's development. Sports organisations can also be encouraged to increase involvement by young people in decision-making processes concerning them. However it is appropriate that governments should ensure that their general legislation on the protection of children is capable of assuring the necessary guarantees.

    4.4.The responsibility for fixing minimum age-limits is that of the sport organisations concerned. Physical maturity is often reached at an earlier age now, compared to 30 years ago, and international sports federations have to take that evolution into account. The Committee of Ministers would point out that a minimum age-limit for a given competition must be accompanied by agreements on appropriate training methods and loads at lower ages if they are to be effective. It may be that the real problem lies more in early specialisation and in the intensity of training (particularly when international level status is achieved) than in the fact of international competitions at a young age. It is primarily the responsibility of individual parents, coaches and trainers _ as well as that of the sports organisations _ to ensure that the young child's integrity _ physical, social and psychological _ is respected.

    4.5.In this context, the Committee of Ministers endorses the Assembly's view that when talented young athletes undergo special sport training, they should also receive proper general education, participate in ordinary social life and acquire post-sport career skills.

    4.6.The Committee of Ministers has already supported, in the texts previously mentioned, the need for sports organisations and coaches to be fully aware of their wider responsibilities and _ as a basic condition _ to be able to receive training in those matters and for the appropriate bodies to ensure that they are properly qualified for their tasks.

    4.7With regard to research in this field, the Committee of Ministers notes that several member States have conducted in-depth surveys. Such research, which may not need replication, merits wide dissemination of the results, and the Committee for the Development of Sport (CDDS) has arranged for this to be done. The CDDS will also keep under review whether to look further into this question. The CDDS has also asked the Sport for All Information Centre (the Clearing House) to collect and disseminate appropriate national information on this topic. The first results appeared in the Sports Information Bulletins in 1996.