The Cyprus Presidency approaches sport policy as a tool to promote social cohesion, inclusion and well-being on the European agenda, Minister of Education, Sport and Youth, Athena Michaelidou, said on Tuesday.
She was speaking to journalists in Brussels where the work of the EU Council of Education, Youth, Culture and Sport continues with the second day of proceedings including discussions on the field of sport.
The Cyprus Presidency, she said, “approaches sport policy as a tool to promote social cohesion, inclusion and well-being on the European agenda.”
She noted that a central issue of the discussions will be the role of sport as a means of strengthening social cohesion, as well as its contribution to the promotion of physical and mental health. She also underlined that sport is a lifelong activity accessible to everyone, regardless of age.
Michaelidou stated that ministers are expected to approve Council conclusions on sports tourism, which she said is linked to the economy, sustainability and social cohesion. She added that the Cyprus Presidency will work in depth and with seriousness in this direction, in order to achieve the adoption of the Council conclusions today.
At the same time, she noted that the Cyprus Presidency promotes sport policy as a factor linked to well-being, sustainability and resilience, as well as to citizens’ physical and mental health.