Spurring social inclusion through sport: Celebrating the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Sport is invaluable for strengthening social bonds. As the city of Paris welcomes athletes from around the world for the 2024 Olympic Games, we highlight the CEB’s work in fostering social inclusion through investments in sports across three of our member countries: Lithuania, North Macedonia and Italy.
According to UNESCO, the practice of sport, education and sporting events contribute significantly to the promotion of ethical and sustainable behaviour patterns, representing a vehicle for triggering positive social transformations. Access to sports is therefore important in not only improving social cohesion but also enhancing quality of life.
Kaunas, Lithuania: Sports, community and quality of life
In 2019, the CEB approved a €25 million loan to Kaunas City Municipality in Lithuania to provide better access to education, health, sports, social, and cultural services and facilities. Two additional loans, each worth €25 million, were subsequently approved in 2020 and 2022.
Under this project loan, the facilities co-financed by the CEB as well as the EU funds include the reconstruction of the S. Dariaus and S. Girėnas stadium complex and the renovation of a multi-purpose sports hall in the Žaliakalnis city area.
By providing spaces for physical activity, cultural, and educational events, this project has enhanced access to sports and improved community engagement, thereby spurring social cohesion. Furthermore, the facilities have created new job opportunities, contributing to the regeneration and economic development of Žaliakalnis, with sports events offered at the sports hall and stadium estimated to attract around 70,000 visitors annually.
As Kaunas City Mayor Visvaldas Matijošaitis underlines, “The Kaunas Sports Hall is a significant symbol for all Kaunas residents, so its renovation was meaningful and long-awaited. We can celebrate that the results of the project have exceeded our expectations - the hall is fully packed with various events and activities, providing opportunities for people of all ages to engage in non-formal education, physical activity, and various events.
The stadium serves not only as a venue for professional sports and large-scale events but also as a space for community inclusion through free events and initiatives.”
Commenting on collaboration with the CEB, the Mayor emphasises that “not only the financial support from CEB but also the assistance and support from its expert staff have allowed these projects to be successfully implemented.”
CEB Senior Country Manager Valeriu Cosuleanu adds, “Our partnership with the City of Kaunas exemplifies how investing in sports infrastructure fosters a vibrant community environment, where individuals can engage in enriching sports and cultural activities, which elevate their quality of life and cultivate social cohesion.”
North Macedonia: Financing for student well-being
By financing the reconstruction and renovation of sports facilities in schools, the CEB promotes physical education for children and young people, which is necessary in ensuring their long-term physical and mental well-being.
In 2011, the Bank approved a €30 million loan to the Government of North Macedonia to support the Ministry of Education and Science in improving the conditions for learning and physical activity in schools through the renovation of 138 primary and secondary schools and the construction and equipment of 70 sports halls. In view of the large needs, the loan was supplemented with two Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) grants amounting to €5 million.
As of June 2023, 69 sports halls have been constructed and 90 primary and secondary schools have been renovated, benefitting a total of 96,000 students. By creating a better learning environment through physical education, these facilities have played an important role in keeping the students active and improving their health.
As noted by Vulnet Saliu, Supervisor at the Ministry of Education and Science of North Macedonia, this also has long-term impacts on the country’s economic development: “The project is expected to positively impact in the long-term the health and the preparedness of the labour force that will participate in the country’s developing and diversifying economy.”
Italy: Access to sport for all
To maximise access to sports in Italy, CEB partnered with Istituto per il Credito Sportivo e Culturale (ICSC), leading Italian public bank dedicated to the promotion of sports and culture, to support local authorities in making investments in sports infrastructure.
An initial loan of €150 million was granted to ICSC in 2018, followed by three additional loan facilities for a total loan amount of €320 million.
Noting that every €1 invested in sports projects generates €3 of social benefits, a recent ICSC report stresses that investment in sports infrastructure is invaluable in its ability to multiply social benefits and activate processes of urban revitalisation.
Stimulating sport practice at the local level
The CEB funds co-financed the €1.2 million renovation of a soccer and rugby field in the municipality of Sacrofano, a town of 8,000 inhabitants located in the Rome metropolitan area. Targeting youth from ages 6 to 25, the soccer and rugby field have been used by local schools and the local sport association, which has around 400 to 500 members.
The field, which can be used both for training and competition, offers residents the opportunity to engage in physical activity in a constant and structured manner, thereby improving their psychological and physical well-being.
In addition to strengthening the social role of sports as a vehicle for education, inclusion and community belonging, the renovation of the field has increased energy efficiency.
In the municipality of Lanuvio, which has a 12,000 population, the CEB funds were used to rebuild a 400-meter athletics track, which had fallen into disrepair and become unusable. The project received the Italian National Olympic Committee approval and the CEB covered half of the €340,000 renovation costs.
Promoting inclusion
Lucia Bucciarelli Ducci, CEB Country Manager for Italy stresses the CEB's commitment to serving the most vulnerable groups: “Especially when considering small urban centres, these facilities act as crucial community centres, promoting health, inclusion, and social integration.”
This sentiment is also reflected in the spirit of the Article 33 of the Italian Constitution, which was unanimously amended in 2023 to recognise “the educational and social value of sporting activity in all its forms and its role in supporting physical and psychological well-being.”