TAFISA, the Gerlev Sports Academy (Denmark), Sport Fryslan (Netherlands), the University School of Physical Education Poznan (Poland), the Flemish Traditional Sports Federation (Belgium), the Italian Traditional Sports and Games Federation and the Municipality of Kavala (Greece) are proud to announce the launch of the European Platform for Traditional Sports and Games (TSG), which stands for safeguarding and promoting TSG, the European intangible cultural heritage, and capitalising on their potential to stimulate HEPA, social inclusion, education and a common European identity across unique, diverse cultures.
On December 6th, 2017, at a conference hosted by MEP Seán Kelly at the European Parliament, the partners kicked-off the Platform’s works, which are the result of a 1-year project co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.
High level speakers were gathered for this special event as MEP Seán Kelly underlined the importance to safeguard TSG for the European cultural diversity, and Maria-Luisa Fernandez Esteban, Deputy Head of the European Commission’s Sport Unit, highlighted the commitment of the Commission to promote TSG. UNESCO’s Jonathan Lorcher-Beaudran announced UNESCO’s strategy to elaborate policy guidelines on TSG, develop an online world sports encyclopaedia and establish an International Platform on TSG.
A main result of the project unveiled by TAFISA Secretary General Wolfgang Baumann is the publication of a State of Play of European Traditional Sports and Games, which for the first time provides a full picture on what is their situation from a policy, practice and research point of view, including a directory of international and European policy papers, a directory of organisations working with TSG, a set of good practices, and a European TSG bibliography. All resources are available at www.tsgplatform.org
The conference was also the opportunity for Anne Jochum de Vries, Director of Sport Fryslan and head of the 1st TAFISA European Sport for All Games (3-7 August 2018), to invite European countries participate in the event. The European Platform for TSG’s mission, to serve as a European resource hub that stimulates the sharing of TSG policy, knowledge and practice, ultimately increasing the number of institutions and individuals involved in TSG, will ultimately contribute to our long-term vision: a united Europe eternally rich and diverse in TSG. Contributions are welcome. For more information on the platform’s objectives and activities, please visit www.tsgplatform.org or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. TAFISA and its project partners thank MEP Seán Kelly for its on-going support and patronage.