[child-rights] Council of Europe sports ministers agree measure to boost sport in schools

Warsaw, 13.09.2002 - A Council of Europe European Sports Ministers meeting
has pledged to work towards a revival of sport in schools amid fears that
children's health and welfare is suffering through a decline in physical
education Europe-wide.

The ministers agreed to study ways to improve sports provision for all
children and young people, including those with disabilities, both in school
and in the community.

The meeting, in Warsaw, Poland, heard evidence from a specially commissioned
survey covering different European countries of a serious decline in the
quality and time allocated to teaching physical education and sport, coupled
with a drop in opportunities for sport outside school hours.

Yet sport was essential to combat a rising number of obese and unhealthy
children, and to ensure good health in Europe's citizens for the future,
said Ministers. They also stressed that sport could help to teach values
upheld by the Council of Europe, such as tolerance and fair play, and act as
a tool for social cohesion.

Finding time for sport in the school curriculum, improving the quality of
sport offered to children and young people, training and retraining for
teachers, and campaigns to promote an active lifestyle were amongst measures
put forward by the ministers.  They agreed to promote the idea of an hour's
physical activity a day  - both inside and outside school.

For more information on this meeting,, see our special file on
http://www.coe.int/SportWarsaw


Press Release
Council of Europe Spokesperson and Press Division
Ref: 431a02
Tel: +33 3 88 41 25 60
Fax:+33 3 88 41 39 11
pressunit@coe.int
internet: www.coe.int/press