The Sport Innovation Hub was present at the Erasmus+ Sport Info Day 2026 organised in Brussels on December 11th by the European Commission and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency, where the main features of the 2026 Programme Guide were discussed. The event started with a round table moderated by Ms. Sophie Beernaerts, Director at the European Education and Culture Executive Agency, with the participation of Mr. Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Mr. Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski, Member of the European Parliament and Vassos Koutsioundas, from Cyprus Sport Organisation.
The main things highlighted as the vision for the Sport Programme in the next financial framework of the EU were to “boost” the values in sport, specifically at grassroots levels, where all differences are left aside, as well as the mobility of athletes and equal opportunities for greater sport access.
And idea that was thrown around was the notion that sport is free medicine, and as such, it is really important to promote health-enhancing physical activity across all generations, specially taking into consideration the inactivity pandemic that Europe is currently facing.
Some key milestones on EU policy in sport include the discussions to achieve at least 5% of the Erasmus + Budget to be dedicated to sport, while right now this cypher stands at 2%, which has proven to be too low for the importance it has and the benefits it can bring to the population.
With the launch of the Cyprus Presidency in January, we know that sport will be at the centre of their activities, representing a key driver for sustainable development through local events that can be replicable, the organisation in June of an international conference on Sport Tourism, and the establishment of a Mediterranean Sport Council.
With application numbers skyrocketing since 2023, the available funding in 2026 will see 115 Cooperation Partnership projects, 10 Capacity Building in Sport and 30 not-for-profit sport events funded.
We leave Brussels with three clear ideas:
- We need to be innovative and creative with the projects.
- Only good consortia make good projects.
- Think not only of the priorities but also how the proposal fits the award criteria.
