7 April 1999

No. 99/277

Reference documents

- CM(99)52

The Deputies are invited to take note of the abridged report of the 22nd meeting of the Committee for the Development of Sport (CDDS) as it appears in CM(99)52, and, in particular, to adopt a number of Recommendations of the Committee of Ministers to member States.

1. The Steering Committee for the Development of Sport (CDDS) held its 22^nd meeting in Strasbourg from 3-4 March 1999.

2. The CDDS discussed the Report of the Wise Persons and affirmed its conviction that sport needs to retain its own operational structure within the Council of Europe, particularly in view of the strong existing liaison with sports NGOs. The Committee will act to retain and cultivate its strong links with other sectors.

3. The Committee noted that the grant for the Sports Fund for 1999 was 2.3m FFR, which it considered the absolute minimum necessary for a co-operation programme involving 47 states.

4. The Committee authorised the Bureau to continue preparations for the 9^th Ministerial Conference of Ministers Responsible for Sport (Bratislava, 17-18 May) in collaboration with the Slovak authorities (see Agenda item 1.2).

5. The appendices to CM(99)52 contain the texts of three draft Recommendations (items 7.1, b,c,d) which correspond to issues discussed at the 15^th Informal Meeting of Ministers of Sport (Nicosia, 14-15 May 1998).

6. The CDDS decided unanimously to ask the Committee of Ministers to authorise a 3-day meeting as from the 23^rd meeting in March 2000. Given that the Committee only meets once a year, two days is no longer enough to allow for proper discussion of agenda items. It is recalled that until 1995 the CDDS held a 3-day meeting.

7. The CDDS considers that the new emphasis on social cohesion in the programme of activities of the Council of Europe is concomitant with earlier work of the CDDS on the contribution of sport to social re-integration programmes for groups such as young prisoners.

8. The Committee considered that the submission of this draft Recommendation, together with the draft Explanatory Memorandum would be in line with the recognition by the Second Summit of "the role of sport in promoting social integration, particularly among young people".

9. The length of time taken to obtain visas has sometimes prevented sportsmen and women from competing in events held outside their own countries.

10. This recommendation aims to facilitate participation by sportspeople in official international sports competitions.

11. The attention of the Committee of Ministers is drawn to the fact that the subject of this draft recommendation is not a sporting question. However the CDDS considers that it is a recommendation that will protect the image of sport and offer better protection to society as a whole.

Item 7.1

(CM (99)52)

The Deputies

1. agreed to authorise a three day annual meeting of the CDDS as from the 23rd meeting (March, 2000);

2. took note of the abridged report of the 22^nd meeting of the Committee for the Development of Sport as it appears in CM (99)52.

Item 7.1

(CM(99)52)

The Deputies

1. adopted Recommendation No. R (99) …, of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the contribution to social cohesion, as it appears in Appendix… to the present volume of Decisions [see Appendix 4 to CM(99)52];

2. authorised the publication of its Explanatory Memorandum.

Item 7.1

(CM(99)52)

The Deputies adopted Recommendation No R (99)…. of the Committee of Ministers to member States on facilitating the granting of visas to sportspeople, as it appears in Appendix … to the present volume of Decisions [see Appendix 5 to CM(99)52].

Item 7.1

(CM(99)52)

The Deputies adopted Recommendation No R (99) of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the prohibition of free fighting contests as cage fighting as it appears at Appendix … to the present volume of Decisions [see Appendix 6 to CM (99)52].