Council of Europe: Human rights and the rule of law must be at the centre of sport

Dear Friends.

In 1980, the Olympics seemed a bigger deal, even, than they are now. Perhaps because there was no internet – we all watched the same programs and listened to the same news.

That year, I stayed up at night to watch the final games of the Olympic ice hockey tournament. The Soviet Union versus the USA.

The US team was young and inexperienced. The Soviets had won five of the six previous Olympic golds. None expected the US to win … and yet, in the final third, down 3-2, all of us were on the edge of our seats, as the US scored two goals, to pull off the most famous win in ice hockey history.

I remember the euphoria afterwards, as it was in the midst of the Cold War. And it wasn’t even my team, being a Norwegian. But this is the magic of sport.

Such moments – when the underdog triumphs, when your own team tops the league, when an injured athlete limps to victory – these are the moments we treasure. As players, administrators – or, like me – spectators.

But sport is built of millions of moments.

A footballer arrives at an arena in his sports car for his training session, his tracksuit emblazoned with famous logos. At a field in the same country, a footballer finishes practice with her national team, then boards a bus to the part-time job that pays her rent.

As his national anthem plays, a gifted basketballer kneels in silent protest against racism, and he is dropped from the next game. In a house in the suburbs, a refugee pulls on her cricket gear to go and practice with her friends. She would be arrested, imprisoned and perhaps even killed for doing the same in her own country.

To use a well-worn but apt cliché, it’s certainly not a level playing field!

But sport allows us to play out rivalries without malice – and without violence. It is about fitness and team spirit and fairness – and all the good things that go with the idea of “playing the game”.

But not everyone plays the same game. And that’s why this conference is so important.

I congratulate you, Jens, Stanis and the entire team at Play the Game, on a conference that has covered the broad range of challenges facing sport in the twenty-first century. And I welcome your work on sports integrity – particularly that on stronger enforcement of existing rules and better protection of whistleblowers.

Many of the challenges to sport, as a matter of fact, are the same as those we face throughout society. Crime, corruption, racism, sexism, and other kinds of discrimination. Abuse in sports, exploitation, disinformation, imbalances of resources, imbalances of power, bad governance.

At Play the Game 2025, you have tackled every aspect of the legal and ethical minefields of sport because you believe in democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

You believe – as I do – that these values are fundamental to sport.

And you have embraced free speech and open debate – the very spirit of democracy – sharing your ideas and exploring solutions to the problems that can inhibit the life-affirming power of sport.

I congratulate you on a conference that has been all about the spirit of sport – of playing the game in its best sense.

At the Council of Europe, we support this spirit in every way possible.

We aim to place the protection of human rights and respect for the rule of law in sports – and in particular, the fight against corruption – on the agenda of all governments and sports organisations.

Through our Sport Strategy, the European Sports Charter and our sport conventions, we strive to promote integrity in sport.

Our Anti-doping Convention was the first treaty of its kind. And we are committed to a global anti-doping framework that is effective and efficient.

The Saint-Denis Convention upholds safety for those who participate in and attend events.

Legal betting and match-fixing is not just a threat to sport integrity, it undermines democratic societies and the rule of law. And the Macolin Convention unites public authorities with sports organisations, competition organisers, and betting companies to combat manipulation of sports competitions.

But there is strong lobbying, and at times they even find support from certain governments. However, I note the number of states party to the Convention has doubled over the past three years.

Violence against children in sports happens far too often, affecting all countries and disciplines alike, and can occur at grassroots to elite-level in sports.

Most victims suffer in silence and never get help.

With the “Start to Talk” initiative, we want to provide support and tools to governments and sports organisations – be it the need to

• Improve legislation and policies
  
  
• Set up child safeguarding strategies
  
  
• Develop codes of conduct
  
  
• Provide professional training to coaches, managers and policymakers 

Or just to raise awareness – and empower parents and children.

Finally, over the last 20 years, we have together with many of you promoted good governance frameworks in sports and combatted corruption.

MARS, our Network of Magistrates and Prosecutors for Sport is strengthening international co-operation and the exchange of information on the integrity in sport, and 46 European governments have adopted a Declaration on Sport Integrity.

And our influence extends beyond Europe.

The Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) – a forum for co-operation and dialogue currently has 41 member states – including three from outside Europe. Because sport is an international and a universal language. And the challenges we face are often the same.

Our fundamental values all apply to sport, and in Europe, all are supported by law and the European Convention on Human Rights,  guaranteed by the European Court of Human Rights.

You are aware that one of the most high-profile recent cases in sport is the Caster Semenya v. Switzerland judgment. I would also like to take a moment to acknowledge Caster Semenya, who is here with us today. This case is likely to influence how the Swiss Federal Tribunal handles appeals against decisions of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), especially when such decisions may affect the human rights of individuals who have not freely chosen private arbitration.

Although the European Court of Human Rights has not yet ruled directly on the situation of female athletes with differences of sex development (DSD), Council of Europe member States remain attentive to the risks affecting their rights, including in sport.

On this note, I have just returned from Malta, where yesterday the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted a recommendation to member states on the equal rights of intersex persons.

Fundamental rights, such as academic freedom.

Freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

Protection of journalists, whistleblowers and the legal profession.

Protection of all those who stand up for what they believe in.

And I note here our deep concern for Anatol Kotau.

Many of you will remember Anatol from the last Play the Game conference, when he spoke on behalf of the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation. He disappeared in mysterious circumstances less than two months ago.

At the Council of Europe, we will do all that we can for him, and I sincerely hope he is found safe and well.

Some years after the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid,  the International Ice Hockey Federation named the US victory against the Soviet Union “the Miracle of Ice” and declared it the top international ice hockey story of the past 100 years.

I am proud that, together, all of us in this room – and many, many individuals and organisations beyond – are working towards the same goal, our own little miracles.

A better sporting world. A world where athletes have access to the same opportunities, no matter their race, gender or politics.

A world without unfair advantage, exploitation or corruption.

A world where sport is played in all its magnificent diversity, but where everyone plays by the same rules of fairness and integrity.

Thank you for your attention.

Watch the closing speech by Bjørn Berge