The Council of Europe’s Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) held its flagship biennial event, the 2025 Diversity Conference, on 21 October from 9.30am to 5.00pm in hybrid format (Strasbourg, Palais de l’Europe, and online). This year’s theme was “Sport and Intergenerational Challenges for Young People and Older Persons”.

Against the backdrop of a changing demographic landscape, the conference explored how sport can be used to bridge generational divides and promote the health and empowerment of both young people and older persons. Experts, public authorities, and civil society organisations presented innovative initiatives that promote active lifestyles across all ages and foster greater solidarity between generations. Discussions provided effective solutions for topics such as social isolation, age-friendly sports infrastructure, youth disengagement, digital divides, and inclusive programme design.

The event was opened by Hanne Juncher, Director of Security, Integrity and Rule of Law at the Council of Europe, and Solène Charuau, Chair of the EPAS Governing Board. The Spotlight session featured Jean-Michel Oprendek, senior sport expert and former Technical Director of the French Fencing Federation, and Ana Japaridze, Paralympic medallist and European Youth Games champion, who shared testimonies of the role sport has played in their lives.

Three thematic panels focused on engaging young people in sport, supporting active ageing through physical activity, and fostering intergenerational co-operation through inclusive sport. Speakers included representatives from the Italian Ministry for Sport and Youth, the Bulgarian Ministry of Youth and Sport, Ireland’s Active School Flag initiative, the French Federation of Retired Sport, the European Olympic Committees, and the International Sport and Culture Association, among others.

The conference was open to policy makers, sports organisations, grassroots actors, researchers, and other stakeholders working at the intersection of sport, ageing, youth, and inclusion. It aimed to provide inspiration, foster the exchange of best practices, and equip participants with concrete tools for advancing sport policies that benefit all generations.

During the lunch break, participants were invited to take part in a Walking Football demonstration on the lawn of the Council of Europe, organised in co-operation with the Collectivité européenne d'Alsace (European Collectivity of Alsace) and the Alsace Football District, which offered a practical look at sport as a tool for inclusion and healthy ageing.