We need to move it, move it

Have you watched the animation movie "Wall-E"? If yes, you should remember the sad prediction of the human kind's future made by the movie makers: obese people being carried everywhere by automated chairs/vehicles, playing games from these chairs, consuming more and more while in these chairs, etc. This picture may not be as far from what lies in our future as we'd like. It doesn't surprise then that the European Commission announced yesterday a first ever proposal for a Council Recommendation on sport. The goal is to try to enhance sport participation and physical activity of European consumers, in order to improve their health prospects by avoiding obesity etc. Currently, 2/3 of Europeans never or seldom exercise or play sport. (!) Since the promotion of physical activity depends on the Member States, the European initiative may only invite them to develop certain strategies and action plans that would be harmonised across the EU. ("Getting people out of their chairs: new initiative to promote physical activity in Europe") Interestingly, the European Commissioner, Androulla Vassiliou even said specifically: "Much more can be done through our policies to encourage people to get out of their chairs.". I think she watched "Wall-E".

Let it snow!

Since snow is gradually making an appearance across Europe, let us take a look at the ECC-Net report on ski resorts in Europe. The European Consumer Centres Network recognises that skiing (followed by snowboarding, cross-country skiing) is one of the most popular leisure-activities in many European countries. Therefore, it conducted a survey of 26 countries on winter sport resorts to support consumers in their choice of suitable winter vacation. The report is to make it easier for consumers to compare offers of winter holidays in various European countries, showing differences in prices and highlighting custom-made options (like family reductions) in a structured, transparent way.

Who are the champions?

Consumer protection in the past few years grew significantly in importance. As a result the European institutions do not limit themselves to drafting new consumer legislation and supervising their implementations but try also to intervene whenever European consumers' interests could be endangered in more ad hoc matters. A recent example thereof is the creation of a new website that gives consumer tips to fans travelling to EURO 2012 games in Poland or Ukraine. This new website is accessible, e.g., from the UEFA EURO 2012 homepage and will be broadly advertised, e.g., in hotels in Poland. The idea is to give an overview to consumers travelling en masse to and from Poland of their rights and obligations in this country, e.g., when their luggage will get lost on the way to the games, or when the hotel service will not be as advertised.

"The Europe Direct Contact Centre services will answer any on-line query on general EU consumer rights in 23 languages while a consumer Infoline in English – operated by the Polish consumer organisation Federacja Konsumentów – will provide legal support to those who run into consumer problems in Poland." (European Commission and UEFA launch 'Consumer Tips' for fans travelling to EURO 2012)

The infoline should already by open and operate until 31st of July 2012. The free number from a Polish phone (either mobile or fixed-line) is: 800 007 707. From a foreign phone you should call (it's not free then!): 0048 228 27 5474.

Goal! ... Goals were set for future European regulations of sport sector.

Everyone has some hobby or passion that he just cannot help but be a bit emotional about, maybe even a bit out of control about. Many of these are sport-related. Unfortunately, some of these sport passions tend to take over rational sense which sometimes escalates in violence during sport events, match-fixing, players' doping etc. Sport has been recognized as one of the areas that European institutions have power to harmonize on a European level, on the basis of article 165 of the Lisbon Treaty. A few days ago, the European Parliament adopted a resolution in which it calls for more legislative initiatives aiming at regulating sport on a European level (Sport: EU tackles hooligans, corrupt agents and illegal betting).

One goal that was set for European institutions is to make sport more approachable and attractive for girls and women. On one hand, it may be achieved by increasing the amount of women in sport governing bodies, who could possibly better protect female interests in sports. On the other hand, it is interesting to see that the European Parliament members perceive cultural or religious grounds that could restrain girls (or more specifically 'immigrant girls') from participating in gym or swimming classes at schools as intolerable and inexcusable. Personally, this view seems to be a bit narrow-minded and may lead to some unrest it would lead to the adoption of a binding provision in this scope.

Less controversial idea is to create European blacklists of hooligans, that is, sport fans who are known to be violent or engage in discriminatory behaviour. They should be banned from all European stadiums during international matches. This goal could be achieved upon creation of a European database. I'm fully in support of this idea, especially since I'm supposed to attend a game during EURO 2012 and I worry a bit about safety measures that are going to be enforced.

The MEPs think not only about protection of potential female athletes as well as safety of citizens attending games, but also professional athletes. They suggest adoption of a new European law on the basis of which trafficking in performance-enhancing substances would be treated alike trafficking in illegal drugs. Moreover, any match-fixing, illegal betting etc. should be treated as a criminal offence in Europe. Licensing system should be adopted for betting operators. Other initiatives concerns sports agents as well as education system set up for young athletes aside their sports training.