Golf Commits to European Week of Sport2 min read

European golf organisations united this week under the banner of Golf Europe to sign a letter of intent with the European Commission committing their support for the 2015 European Week of Sport.

At a signing ceremony during the annual European Union (EU) Sports Forum held this year under the auspices of the Italian Presidency of the EU in Milan, The European Tour, R&A, The European Golf Association, The Professional Golfers’ Associations of Europe (Confederation of Professional Golf) and The Ladies European Tour, together with 13 other sporting bodies, agreed to promote #BeActive and participate in European Week of Sport, from September 7-13, by collectively mobilising the golf community network (governing bodies, national federations, clubs, coaches, sponsors, professional players and media) to raise awareness of the societal benefits of golf participation.

Golf Europe will promote the #BeActive campaign by organising grass roots activity and mobilising ambassadors throughout Europe through a range of activities including:

• implementing golf development initiatives across several Member States with structured coaching being delivered by PGA Professionals;
• showcasing golf’s European youth engagement strategy while simultaneously promoting sport’s value for health and wellbeing;
• utilising the inspirational role of professional golfers – notably the team captains of both the Solheim Cup and the Ryder Cup – to communicate to young people and to support the delivery of the European Week of Sport objectives; and
• developing and implementing legacy and outreach programmes, aligned with social and environmental policy agendas, enabled by the success of major golf events in Europe.

Now is an important time to further strengthen the dialogue between policy makers at the European Commission and the sport sector with levels of participation in sport and physical activity in Europe stagnating and, in some Member States, even falling. The collaborating golf organisations are committed to promoting the sport of golf to all European citizens in order to help reverse this trend.

The group have contributed to the development of the European dimension in sport and will strengthen their existing commitment through support and participation in the European Week of Sport 2015. The intention is that this co-operation will lead to an increased promotion of sport and physical activity, particularly in relation to societal aspects, participation and health.