As of today a new office is about to join Brussels’ big league in the European affairs. Located at 43 Avenue des Arts, The House of Sport is a joint initiative established by several leading organisations in the sport and active leisure sector. It is composed of four physical partners such as EuropeActive (European Health and Fitness Association), FESI (Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry), ICSS (International Centre for Sport and Security) and the European think tank Sport & Citizenship as well as seven non-physical partners namely ACES Europe (European Capitals and Cities of Sport Federation), EMCA (European Multisport Club Association), Sporsora, EHLA (European Healthy Lifestyle Alliance), FEDAS (Federation of European Sport Retailers), EFCS (European Federation of Company Sports) and EPSI (European Platform for Sport Innovation).
According to the partners, the main objective of this initiative is to benefit from working together in an organised cross sectorial approach and raise awareness on the benefits of sport and physical activity. Furthermore, the partners aim at joining forces in order to share and coordinate strategic goals for the overall development of the sport sector. In doing so they will also support charity organisations.
The event, organised as part of the European Week of Sport, will be the opportunity, in respective keynote addresses, for Mr Jens Nymand-Christensen (Deputy Director General EC, DG EAC) to stress the importance of sport and physical activity for the EU and for Mr Antonio Campinos (President OHIM) to share the results of OHIM’s latest study, released today, on the economic impact of IPR infringement in the sport goods sector.
According to the programme the opening will start at Filigranes the famous Bookshop with a welcoming word from Mr Alberto Bichi (FESI), followed by a short speech on the relevance of the House of Sport by Mr Luca Businaro (FESI), Mr Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros (ICSS EUROPE) and Sir Graham Watson (EuropeActive) while Mr Laurent Thieule (Sport and Citizenship) will address concluding remarks. The event will move on to a heart-warming charity walk through the Park Royal. The charity walk will be attended by all the guests whom have been invited to match their suits with sport footwear.
Finally, the charity income received by both, the partners of the House of Sport as well as some sponsors from the sporting goods industry such as Foot Locker, Puma, Nike, adidas and ISPO will be donated to:
SOS –Childrensvillages, www.sos-childrensvillages.org
After successfully being introduced to the public, The House of Sport and more precisely the organisations under its umbrella, will be ready to join forces under a common goal – Enhance the relevance of sport and physical activity in all dimensions of our society such as economic, educational, cultural and social ones. For more information, also have a look at the video on the House of Sport opening.House of Sport Partners
