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Need for youth representation
The story of EYAS begins in February 2024, on the eve of the European elections. At that time, ANESTAPS, the only representative organisation for students in the field of sports in France, found it essential to create a position paper. This document would reflect what young French people want for sports in Europe and could humbly influence European sports policies. The problem was that there was no youth sports structure at the European level to carry this position paper. ANESTAPS found itself in a difficult situation since it only represented French students and, therefore, could only convey a French perspective.
A European experience
With the help of its Spanish counterpart, ANECAFYDE, they decided together, on February 9, 2024, at the European Parliament, to bring together 120 young people, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), and partners from the European sports world to create the first alliance of young people in sports in Europe: EYAS (European Youth Alliance in Sports field). This alliance's primary goal is to shed light on the need to consider young people and sports in political decision-making. Of course, it also provides more legitimacy to its advocacy efforts and the promotion of its position paper since it represents all students engaged in the field of sports across Europe. A manifesto calling for people to join the alliance was published on the same day.
Now that this alliance has been created, EYAS's challenge is to find other national student federations in other European countries, as it currently only represents two countries: Spain and France. Over the six months following the alliance's creation, the focus has been on identifying counterparts in other nations. A significant effort in research, networking, and outreach, supported by the entire European sports ecosystem, has been undertaken.
A CIVIS Student-led project to boost EYAS
Faced with the growing challenge of finding counterparts, EYAS has turned to European university alliances. These alliances enable EYAS to connect with students from across Europe without necessarily relying on external organizations. Furthermore, these alliances provide an institutional framework, financial support, and valuable contacts. This is the case with CIVIS, an alliance with which EYAS continues to collaborate today, in the context of the Student-led projects initiative.
Regardless of their background or age, any student engaged in the field of sports and motivated to work on democratic, civic, and sports-related issues is welcome in Marseille for the EYAS launch seminar, from April 18-20, 2025! Over the weekend, we will debate, train, and define the role we want sports and youth to play in Europe.
