EU at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Celebrating Unity, Solidarity, and Diversity

Sport is an integral part of daily life for millions of Europeans, whether cycling to work, swimming, or enjoying events live or on TV. This summer, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the world’s largest sporting event, commenced with a globally broadcasted Opening Ceremony, where the EU made a historic appearance.

For the first time, the EU prominently featured in the Opening Ceremony, showcasing a performance on a floating barge under the motto "United in Diversity." Dancers, representing the youth, openness, and dynamism of the EU, performed to Eurodance music, symbolizing the union's vibrant spirit.

This event provided a unique platform for the EU to promote its core values of peace, unity, and solidarity, emphasizing diversity as a strength and team spirit as crucial for success. These values resonate deeply with the Olympic spirit and the objectives of the Paris 2024 Games.

Promoting EU Values and Initiatives

The Olympic Games offer an excellent opportunity to highlight the EU's commitment to freedom of movement and education, particularly for young people, along with its policies supporting sports and youth activities.

Additionally, the EU launched the European Medal Counter – Team Europe 2024 for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This initiative allows everyone to follow and celebrate the achievements of EU athletes, tracking their medal counts throughout the event.

EU's Efforts to Promote Sport

The EU believes sport should be accessible to all. Through the Erasmus+ programme, the EU promotes dialogue, support, and participation across all areas of sport policy. The European Week of Sport, held annually from September 23 to 30, highlights the benefits of sport and physical activity at national, regional, and local levels across Europe.

Promoting social inclusion and integration through sport is also a priority. The Commission annually recognizes organizations that use sport to improve social inclusion for disadvantaged groups with the #BeInclusive EU Sport Awards. Additionally, the EU collaborates with national sports organizations to raise awareness about the importance of gender equality in sport.

Fairness in sport, particularly in competitive and professional arenas, is another focus. The EU combats doping by coordinating and sharing information with international partners. To address match-fixing, the Commission actively engages in efforts to ensure competitive sports remain fair.

Sport as a Reflection of EU Values

Through these initiatives, the EU strives to make sport fairer, more inclusive, and accessible, reflecting its core values of peace, unity, solidarity, and diversity. Sport not only contributes to individual health and fitness but also plays a crucial role in shaping a cohesive European society.

In essence, the EU’s participation in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games highlights the union’s commitment to promoting its values through sport, celebrating the diversity and unity that define Europe.

Article source: https://commission.europa.eu/news/eu-paris-2024-olympic-games-unity-solidarity-and-diversity-2024-07-27_en

Photo attribution: Ibex73, Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower 2024 (1), CC BY 4.0