Minister of State McConalogue makes a play for safer sport in Europe
‘Sport must never come at the risk of a young person’s safety or to the detriment of their mental health’
Minister of State with responsibility for Sport and Postal Policy, Charlie McConalogue, is representing Ireland at the 19th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Sport being held this week in Monaco.
Organised by the Council of Europe Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) in co-operation with the Government of Monaco, the conference provides an opportunity to discuss existing Council of Europe work and to identify future priorities.
The conference brings together Ministers responsible for Sport from the 46 Council of Europe member states, parties to the European Cultural Convention, Council of Europe Committee of Ministers and Parliamentary Assembly and global agencies, organisations and non-member states which hold observer status to discuss topics under this theme.
Topics being discussed include issues affecting children in sport, in particular elite sport. These involve issues related to mental health, overtraining, injury and concussion prevention, body image concerns, pressure to achieve results, and doping.
Opened by HSH Prince Albert II and Council Secretary-General Alain Berset, the conference is being chaired by Monaco’s Minister of the Interior, Lionel Beffre.
Speaking ahead of the conference, Minister McConalogue, said: “My fellow ministers and I will be discussing the important issues that EPAS have raised about how we can best safeguard children in sport.”
“At its core, sport is something that connects us all and should give children and young people respite from the pressures of their studies or other aspects of their lives. It must never be something that comes at the risk of a young person’s safety or to the detriment of their mental health.”
Meanwhile, last month Minister McConalogue announced that €302 million had been allocated for sport in Budget 2027.