In the future it will continue to use its resources to encourage specific sporting activities. It will also act as a referee to ensure that EU rules are applied correctly to enable everyone to be treated fairly and enjoy the same opportunities. As the Union prepares for enlargement, sport will be a useful bridge between the peoples of existing and future Member States . For all these reasons it is important that the dialogue and contacts between the Union and the sporting world be well coordinated and as frank and constructive as possible. About 125 million EU citizens take part in one sport or another - equivalent to more than one person in every four.
Sport frequently means savings in medical services.
Research shows that men average 10 minutes a day of sport during the week and 15 minutes at weekends. For women the figures are five minutes and six minutes. There are noticable differences within the Union. Swedish women on average spend eight and a half minutes on sport every day. In Greece the figure is less than one minute.