Assessing, Evaluating and Implementing Athletes' Social Protection in Olympic Sports
About Assessing, Evaluating and Implementing Athletes' Social Protection in Olympic Sports - SOPROS
Assessing, Evaluating and Implementing Athletes’ Social Protection in Olympic Sports – SOPROS was a European cooperation partnership focused on promoting integrity and values in sport by analysing and strengthening the social protection of elite athletes in Olympic sports. The project responded to growing academic, public and sport-specific debates about the social and economic conditions of athletes, particularly regarding issues usually connected to welfare and labour protection.
The project examined fragmented areas of athletes’ social protection, including pension schemes, health insurance, financial security, pregnancy and maternity protection, and other measures affecting athletes’ wellbeing and professional stability. By assessing the situation at national and European levels, SOPROS aimed to support the implementation of concrete protection measures and promote future forms of collective cooperation, dialogue and policy development in Olympic sport.
Main Objectives
- Assessed the social and economic situation of elite athletes in Olympic sports;
- Evaluated athletes’ social protection at national and European levels;
- Identified gaps in areas such as pensions, health insurance and maternity protection;
- Promoted integrity, fairness and values in sport through stronger athlete protection;
- Supported the implementation of concrete social protection measures;
- Encouraged collective cooperation and dialogue between relevant sport stakeholders;
- Contributed to future policy development for athletes’ rights and wellbeing.
Funding programme: Erasmus + Sport – Collaborative Partnership
Reference: 2022-SCP-101090790
Period: 01/2023 to 12/2025Partners:
Coordinator – Deutsche Sporthochschule Koln – Germany
Partner – Fundacja Institute for Sport Governance – Poland
Partner – European Elite Athletes Association – The Netherlands
Partner – Sport Evolution Alliance – Portugal
Partner – Sveuciliste u Rijeci, Pravni Fakultet – Croatia
Partner – Edge Hill University – United Kingdom
Partner – Association Europeenne des Employeurs du Sport – France
Partner – European Olympic Academies – GermanyTotal Budget of the Project: 400.000,00 €
Total Budget of SEA: 46.500,00 €