Memorandum by the British Olympic Association
1. The British Olympic Association (BOA)
is the National Olympic Committee (NOC) for Great Britain and
Northern Ireland. It was formed in 1905 in the House of Commons,
and at that time consisted of seven National Governing Body members.
The BOA now includes as its members the thirty-five National Governing
Bodies of each Olympic sport.
2. Great Britain is one of only five countries
which have never failed to be represented at the summer Olympic
Games since 1896. Great Britain, France and Switzerland are the
only countries to have also been present at all Olympic Winter
Games. Great Britain has also played host to two Olympic Games
in London: in 1908 and 1948. In 2005, London was selected as the
host city for the 2012 Olympic Games.
3. The BOA is one of 205 NOCs currently
recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC's
role is to lead the promotion of Olympism in accordance with the
Olympic Charter. The Charter details the philosophy, aims and
traditions of the Olympic Movement. The IOC co-opts and elects
its members from among such persons as it considers qualified.
Members of the IOC are its representatives in their respective
countries and not delegates of their countries within the IOC.
4. The BOA's role is to prepare and lead
Britain's finest athletes at the summer, winter and youth Olympic
Games. In Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the BOA is responsible
for the development and protection of the Olympic Movement, whose
vision is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world
by educating youth through sport. In addition, the BOA delivers
extensive elite level support services to Britain's Olympic athletes
and their National Governing Bodies throughout each Olympic cycle
to assist them in their preparations for, and performances at
the Games.
5. The BOA does not receive any direct government
or public finance and is completely dependent upon commercial
sponsorship and fundraising income. The impartiality this grants
the BOA means that it can speak freely as a strong independent
voice for British Olympic sport. Sport is built on the work of
volunteers and those coaches, clubs, governing bodies and international
federations who protect and promote their interests. The BOA believes
that the autonomy of sport should be protected.
6. Although the European Union has not previously
had a specific competence for sport, it has recognised the role
of sport on a number of occasions and has exerted an indirect
influence over certain aspects of sport through its competence
in other areas. Furthermore, the Treaty of Amsterdam (1997), the
Helsinki Report (1998) and the Nice Declaration (2000) all gave
strong signals of the increasing importance—both social
and political—that the European Union now attached to sport.
7. Sports organisations, both in Europe
and around the world, welcomed the decision of the European Union
summit in Brussels in June 2007 to set up a new inter-governmental
conference which has in turn led to the introduction of an Article
on Sport in the proposed Reform Treaty of the European Union.
8. The sports movement in Europe has taken
a very constructive approach to this work. In a common position
on the Commission's White Paper on Sport, the sports movement,
including the BOA, restated its unity regarding a legal basis
for sport in the European Union.
9. The Reform Treaty now offers the opportunity
to strengthen the role of sport in Europe and the structures through
which it performs. Sport is the biggest social movement in the
European Union and accomplishes important societal tasks in the
fields of integration, education and health. The BOA is convinced
that the creation of a legal basis for sport in the EU Reform
Treaty addresses the needs of sport and provides a sound legal
framework for the future.
10. However, the BOA would like to maintain
and reinforce the benefits of the declaration of the European
Council of Nice in December 2000, most notably relating to the
autonomy of sports organisations and the specific characteristics
of sport. Reference to the autonomy of sports organisations is
missing from the article on sport and this could, potentially,
have far reaching implications for sports organisations.
11. The BOA supports the stance taken by
the President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques
Rogge, who has stated in September 2007 that, "The responsibility
sport has in society and the autonomy with which it regulates
itself are central to its credibility and legitimacy. Autonomy
thus means preserving the values of sport and the existing structures
through which it has developed in Europe and around the world.
Sport can play its unique role thanks to its autonomy, and this
role would be seriously compromised if the governing bodies of
sport are subject to public interference."
12. In conclusion, the BOA welcomes the
proposal to adopt an Article on Sport in the new EU Reform Treaty
and acknowledges and supports the reference to the specific nature
of sport. However, the BOA remains concerned about the potential
direction of political involvement of governments and public bodies
in the work of sport as a result of the omission of a clear and
direct reference to the autonomy of sport on the face of the proposed
Treaty. The BOA believes that governing bodies are best placed
to run their own sports and will continue to provide services,
assist, represent and support them to ensure their autonomy and
freedom to deliver is protected.
January 2008
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