Pilot project for campaigns to combat doping in sport
The European Commission has now published a call for proposals for pilot projects to combat doping in sport. Two types of action are eligible for support: information campaigns on doping and conferences on ways to harmonise the fight against doping at European level. This Call follows the allocation of 5 million euro to the Commission by the European Parliament, which gives the Commission a mandate to launch pilot actions in the field of anti-doping. It also ties in with the Commission's Communication setting out a Community support plan to combat doping in sport, presented on 1 December 1999 by Commissioner Viviane Reding. Approximately 3 million euro is available for this call for proposals and Commissioner Reding also proposes to give a further 1.5 million euro for pilot actions led by the World Anti-doping Agency. 'Amongst the most important aspects of the fight against doping are prevention and the raising of public awareness. This awareness-raising must include health and education campaigns to underline the dangers of doping and the harm it does to sporting ethics, and must encourage the correct use of medication and protect the health of athletes, especially young people,' says the Commission. It is therefore encouraging the organisation of both European and world-wide campaigns and the production of relevant materials. The Commission will also support actions which examine the approximation or even harmonising of Member States' legislation, laying down acceptable medical limits for the absorption of doping substances, as well as actions to examine the advisability of harmonising testing arrangements throughout the EU. Applicant organisations and authorities must either be from one of the 15 Member States of the European Union, or from sporting organisations at European and/or world level recognised by the International Olympic Committee. For further information, please contact: European Commission Unité Sport EAC C.6 Rue de la rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200 B-1049 Brussels URL: http://europa.eu.int/comm/sport(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie)