Objectives of the Action

This Action aims to support the organisation of sport events with a European dimension in the following fields:

• Volunteering in sport;
• Social inclusion through sport, in particular fostering the inclusion of people with disabilities;
• Fight against discrimination in sport, including gender equality;
• Encouraging healthy lifestyles for all: projects under this priority will mainly focus on: a) the implementation of the three pillars of the HealthyLifestyle4All initiative, b) the implementation of the Council Recommendation on health-enhancing physical activity and the EU Physical Activity Guidelines c) the support to the implementation of the European Week of Sport d) the promotion of sport and physical activity as a tool for health e) the promotion of all activities encouraging the practice of sport and physical activity f) promotion of traditional sport and games.

The project has to focus on one of these objectives. It can also focus on the remaining objectives but the main objective must be clearly identifiable and prevailing in the proposal.

It provides financial support for the organization of one European-wide sport event in one EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme or for the organisation of European local events in several EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme.

Which are the criteria to be met to apply for non-for-profit European Sport Events?

Eligibility criteria

In order to be eligible for an EU+ grant, project proposals for Not-for-profit European Sport Events must comply with the following criteria:

Who can apply?

Any public or private organisation, with its affiliated entities (if any), active in the field of sport, established in an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme. For example, such organisation can be (non-exhaustive list):

• a public body in charge of sport at local, regional or national level;
• a sport organisation at local, regional, national, European or international level;
• a National Olympic Committee or National Sport confederation;  
• an organisation representing the 'sport for all' movement;  
• an organisation active in the field of physical activity promotion;  
• an organisation representing the active leisure sector;  
• an organisation active in the field of education, training or youth.

Consortium composition

A Not-for-profit European Sport Event is transnational and involves:

For the European local event (Type I): involves between 3 and 5 organisations. Each organisation must come from different EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme.

For the European local event (Type II): a minimum of 6 organisations coming from 6 different EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme

For the European-wide event: a minimum of 10 organisations(1 single applicant + 9 participating organisations presented as associated partners) coming from 10 different EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme.

For the Large-Scale European event: 1 single applicant + 14 participating organisations presented as associated partners coming from 14 different EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme.

Eligible activities

For the European local events (Type I and II) the activities must take place in each EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme involved in the Not-for-profit European Sport Event.

For the European-wide event, the activities must take place in the EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme of the applicant organisation involved in the Not-for-profit European Sport Event.

For the Large-Scale European event, the activities must take place in a EU Member State or in a third country associated to the Programme.

Large scale events are multi-sports and, as such, must showcase a minimum of 10 different sports.

Duration of project

The duration must be chosen at application stage (projects should normally last 12 or 18 months), based on the objective of the project and on the type of activities foreseen over time. Extensions are possible, if duly justified and through an amendment.

Where to apply?

To the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).

For the European local event (Type I and II), and for the European-wide event

Call ID: ERASMUS-SPORT-2023-SNCESE.

For the Large Scale European event

Call ID: ERASMUS-SPORT-2023-LSSNCESE.

When to apply?

For the European local event (Type I and II), and for the European-wide event

Applicants have to submit their grant application by 22 March at 17:00:00 (Brussels time).

For the Large Scale European event

Applicants have to submit their grant application by 21 February at 17:00:00 (Brussels time).

Applicant organisations will be assessed against the relevant exclusion and selection criteria. For more information please consult Part C of this Guide.

Setting up a project

The EU grant will be given to organisations in charge of preparation, organisation and follow up of sporting events.  

The following standard activities are supported (non-exhaustive list):

• preparation and organisation of the event;
• organisation of educational activities for athletes, coaches, organisers and volunteers in the run-up to the event;
• organisation of side-activities to the sporting event (conferences, seminars);
• training of volunteers;
• implementation of legacy activities (evaluations, drafting of future plans);
• communication activities linked to the topic of the event.

The following sport events are not supported under this action:

Sport competitions organised by national, European or international sport federations/associations/leagues on a regular basis (National, European or World Championships) unless the financial support is requested for the organisation of side activities targeting large population.

Expected impact

The expected impact of this action is:  

• increased awareness as regards the role of sport in promoting social inclusion, equal opportunities and health enhancing physical activity (HEPA);  
• increased participation in sport, physical activity and voluntary activity.

Award criteria

Relevance of the project (maximum score 30 points)

The extent to which:

• the proposal is relevant for objectives and priorities of the Action;
• the proposal is based on a genuine and adequate needs analysis;
• the proposal is innovative;  
• the proposal is complementary to other initiatives already carried out by the participating organisations;
• the proposal brings added value at EU level through results that would not be attained by activities carried out by a single country

Quality of the project design and implementation (maximum score 20 points)

The extent to which:

• the project work plan is clear, complete and effective, including appropriate phases for preparation, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and sharing project results;
• the project is cost-effective and allocates appropriate resources to each activity;
• the proposed methodology is clear, adequate and feasible;
• the project proposes relevant quality control measures to ensure that the project implementation is of high quality, completed in time and on budget;
• the project incorporates the use of digital tools and learning methods to complement their physical activities, and to improve the cooperation between partner organisations. 

Quality of the partnership and the cooperation arrangements (maximum score 20 points)

The extent to which:

• the project involves an appropriate mix of participating organisations in terms of profile and expertise to successfully complete all project objectives;
• the proposed allocation tasks demonstrates the commitment and active contribution of all participating organisations;
• the proposal includes effective mechanisms for coordination and communication between the participating organisations, as well as with other relevant stakeholders
• if applicable, the extent to which the involvement of a participating organisation from a third country not associated to the Programme brings an added value to the project.

Impact (maximum score 30 points)

The extent to which:

• the project proposal includes concrete and logical steps to integrate the project results in the regular work of participating organisation;
• the project has the potential to positively impact its participants and participating organisations, as well as the wider community;
• the expected project results have the potential to be used outside the organisations participating in the project during and after the project lifetime, and at local, regional, national or European level;
• the project proposal includes appropriate plans and methods to evaluate the project outcomes;  
• the project proposal includes concrete and effective steps to make the results of the project known within the participating organisations, to share the results with other organisations and the public, and to publicly acknowledge the European Union funding;
• the project proposal includes concrete and effective steps to ensure the sustainability of the project, its capacity to continue having an impact and producing results after the EU grant has been used up.

To be considered for funding, proposals must score at least 60 points, taking into account the necessary minimum pass score for each of the four award criteria: minimum 15 points for “relevance of the project” and “impact” categories, and 10 points for “quality of the project design and implementation” and “quality of the partnership and the cooperation arrangements” categories. In ex aequo cases, priority will be given to highest scores for "relevance of the project" and then “impact”.

What are the funding rules?

The contributions for Not–for–profit European Sport Events take the form of lump sums, with the exception of the Large-Scale European event category. The amount of the fixed lump sum depends on the number of events and number of organisations involved in the project.

Applicants will choose between the 3 pre-defined amounts according to the number of events and number of organisations involved in the project. 

Category of Sport events

European local events

At least one event per country in a minimum of 3 different Programme countries

• Type I: from a minimum of 3 organisations coming from 3 different EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme to a maximum of 5 organisations coming from 5 different EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme
  • Fixed lump-sum: 200.000 EUR
• Type II: a minimum of 6 organisations coming from 6 different EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme
  • Fixed lump-sum: 300.000 EUR

European-wide events

One event with at least 10 EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme (including the applicant organisation)

Fixed lump-sum: 450.000 EUR

a) For the European-local event (Type I): 200.000 EUR

Proposals concern multi-beneficiary projects in which all expenses must be covered by the Applicant and Partner organisations. The participant organisations identified (from 3 to 5) are considered co-beneficiaries and the events and the side activities organised will take place in each EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme involved.

Proposals shall include a specific section with the distribution of tasks and EU grant among partners. The timeline for implementation of each project activity and the deadline for the production of project deliverables shall be indicated as well. 

Applicants must split the project activities in “work packages”. Each work package shall be linked to specific objectives, and applicants must identify a set of quantitative and qualitative indicators allowing to assess the level of achievement of those objectives.

b) For the European-local event (Type II): 300.000 EUR  

Proposals concern multi-beneficiary projects in which all expenses must be covered by the Applicant and Partner organisations. The participant organisations identified (minimum 6) are considered co-beneficiaries and the events and the side activities organised will take place in each EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme involved.

Proposals shall include a specific section with the distribution of tasks and EU grant among partners. The timeline for implementation of each project activity and the deadline for the production of project deliverables shall be indicated as well. 

Applicants must split the project activities in “work packages”. Each work package shall be linked to specific objectives, and applicants must identify a set of quantitative and qualitative indicators allowing to assess the level of achievement of those objectives.

c) For the European-wide event: 450.000 EUR  

Proposals concern mono-beneficiary projects which means that all expenses must be covered by the Applicant organisation and therefore the event and the side activities organised will take place in the EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme of the Applicant organisation. For contractual management aspects, the participating organisation are not considered to be project partners nor associated partners and they do not receive any funding from the Programme as part of the project and therefore cannot be indicated in the budget proposal.

The timeline for implementation of each project activity and the deadline for the production of project deliverables shall be indicated. 

Applicants must split the project activities in “work packages”. Each work package shall be linked to specific objectives, and applicants must identify a set of quantitative and qualitative indicators allowing to assess the level of achievement of those objectives.

Large-Scale European event

As this action aims at supporting large scale events with a very high impact, the grant amount is expected to range between EUR 1 million and 2 million. The grant awarded may be lower than the amount requested.

The grant will be budget-based, with actual and unit costs as well as flat-rate elements. It will support certain types of eligible costs actually incurred for the projects.

The detailed grant parameters (maximum grant amount, funding rate, eligible costs, etc.) will be fixed in the Grant Agreement.

The costs will be reimbursed at the funding rate fixed in the Grant Agreement (80%).

Financial support to third parties is not allowed. Volunteer and SME costs are allowed. Please refer to Part C of this Programme Guide, to the section on ‘Eligible Direct Costs’.

Payment of the Grant

The conditions for the full payment of the grant is the completion of the work packages in line with the quality criteria described in the application. In case one work package is not completed, partially completed or assessed as unsatisfactory in the quality assessment, appropriate reductions of the grant amount may be applied as described in the grant agreement.

More details are described in the model Grant Agreement available in the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal (FTOP).