Minister Bańka took part in a meeting of the Council of the European Union in Brussels
Adoption of the Council conclusions on promoting the common values through sport, and a debate on the commercialization of elite sports
The adoption of the conclusions on promoting the common values of the EU through sport and the debate on the commercialization of elite sports were the main points of the meeting of the Council of the European Union sitting in the configuration of ministers responsible for sport.
In the discussion on the commercialization of sport it was emphasized that the European model of sport, based on solidarity between the different competition levels and on maintaining the appropriate level of competitions between national teams, is increasingly frequently compromised. Moreover, the commercialization of sport often undermines the ties with fans and local communities, and leads to the accumulation of funds by few clubs and leagues.
It is not possible to counteract all the negative aspects of commercialization, but it is worth looking for those areas where intervention is needed and possible, emphasized Minister Bańka.
The Minister also spoke during the part devoted to reporting on the meeting of the World Anti-Doping Agency bodies. He presented information on the negotiations concerning WADA’s future budget. The organization’s draft long-term financial plan, adopted in the WADA Executive Committee meeting and developed by Minister Bańka as a result of consultations with all the continents, envisages an increase of the WADA budget by 8 percent per year in 2019-2022.
