EMCA at the Forefront of the Dialogue for the Future of European Sport
The European Multisport Club Association (EMCA) brought the voice of grassroots sport to the highest European institutional level, with a strong presence at the EU Sport Forum 2026, held on April 15–16 in Paphos, Cyprus.
The EMCA delegation, led by President Christina Tsiligkiri, participated actively in a Forum that made one thing unmistakably clear: the time for structural change in the governance and funding of the sports ecosystem has come.
A Powerful Stance on Solidarity
On April 15, Ms. Tsiligkiri took the stage as a keynote speaker at the panel “Rewarding talent in sport: boosting solidarity and competitive balance”, delivering a bold and unambiguous message:
“We fund success, but we often forget to fund the infrastructure that creates it.”
Drawing on the model of multisport clubs, the EMCA President demonstrated how solidarity can — and must — function as an active operational mechanism rather than an abstract principle: by systematically reinvesting resources into amateur sport and grassroots development.
Strategic Takeaways and Proposals
On April 16, with the focus shifting to policy directions and implementation strategies, the EMCA leadership put forward three critical conclusions for the future of European sport:
1. From Recognition to Implementation
Europe has acknowledged the challenges. What is now required are binding and measurable implementation mechanisms — not further declarations.
2. Grassroots Sport at the Centre
Despite formal institutional recognition, strategic planning remains top-heavy and professional-focused. EMCA calls for grassroots sport to be established as a central pillar of European planning.
3. Institutional Safeguards with Accountability
There is a pressing need for mandatory implementation structures with full accountability, ensuring that value flows back to the level where talent is genuinely nurtured.
High-Level European Engagement
Throughout the Forum (April 15–16), the EMCA delegation — which included Director of Development & Sustainability Bojan Mijatovic — held a series of high-level bilateral meetings with key stakeholders, including:
Giorgio Guazzugli Marini, Head of the Sport Unit, European Commission
Gareth Farrelly, CEO, Union of European Clubs
EMCA remains firmly committed to its mission: serving as a bridge between multisport clubs and European decision-makers, and securing a sustainable, inclusive and fair future for sport across the continent.
Keynote Speech by Christina Tsiligkiri:
“Solidarity in sport is not a slogan. It is a structure.”
“At the European Commission’s EU Sport Forum 2026, I had the opportunity to speak about something we have been discussing for years, yet rarely touch upon in its essence: Solidarity in sport. Not as an idea. Not as a principle. But as a functional mechanism. Because that is exactly where the problem lies.
In Europe, we have built a sports model that, theoretically, is based on redistribution—the idea that the top gives back to the base; that success fuels growth. In practice, however, this is not happening. Funding follows visibility. Value concentrates at the top. And the grassroots—where everything begins—is left behind.
A child starts practicing at a local club. They try different sports, evolve, and discover their talent. At some point, they reach the top. Their success creates value: economic, social, and symbolic. But what about the club that nurtured them? In most cases, they receive nothing. This is not just unfair. It is structurally flawed. Because we are funding the result, not the process that produces it.
Multisport clubs: Leading the way There is, however, a model that works: Multisport clubs. In these clubs, solidarity is not an option. It is an inherent part of their operation. Sports that generate revenue support those that do not. Infrastructure is shared. Resources are redistributed internally. Not because an external rule dictates it, but because the system was designed that way.
This is the critical point: Solidarity works when it is embedded in the structure. Not when it relies on good intentions. And this is precisely what can—and must—be transferred to the European level.
The great gap: Between sports Today, even where solidarity mechanisms exist, they operate within a single sport. There is no interconnection. A club that develops an athlete in volleyball, another in rowing, and another in gymnastics, is not recognized collectively for its work. And yet, this is the reality for most clubs in Europe. This is the daily life of the grassroots. This is the point that the system fails to see.
If we want real change If we are serious about a fair and sustainable European sport, we must do three things: First, institutionally recognize multisport clubs. Not as an exception, but as a fundamental pillar of the system. Second, create mandatory and transparent solidarity mechanisms. With clear data. With accountability. With rules that apply to everyone. Third, support the grassroots with stable resources. Not just through short-term programs lasting a few years, but with structural funding that allows for real long-term planning.
Europe’s choice European sport is at a crossroads. It can continue as it is today, with value concentrated among the few while the grassroots struggles to survive. Or, it can take a step forward. Transforming solidarity from a concept into a mechanism. From a slogan into a policy. From intention into result.
The solutions already exist. We see them every day in multisport clubs. The question is whether we are ready to recognize them—and implement them.”
