ICCE Sport Coaching Europe participated in the EU Sport Forum 2026, held in Paphos, Cyprus, on 15–16 April. As the European Commission’s flagship annual platform for dialogue with the sport sector, the Forum brought together key stakeholders to address current challenges and future priorities in European sport. ICCE Sport Coaching Europe was represented by ICCE Board Member, Wiebke Fabinski (Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund).

The 2026 edition of the Forum reaffirmed the importance of the European Sport Model, underlining its core principles of solidarity, autonomy, and the strong connection between grassroots and elite sport. Key themes included mental health and wellbeing, advancing gender equality and inclusion, and strengthening integrity and good governance. The development of sustainable sport systems rooted in shared values was a central focus throughout the discussions.

From ICCE’s perspective, these priorities reinforce a consistent conclusion: high-quality, values-based coaching is essential to creating safe, inclusive, and development-focused sport environments. Coaches play a pivotal role in supporting wellbeing, safeguarding participants, and fostering positive cultures. As such, coach education represents a practical and impactful lever for system-wide change.

ICCE continues to position itself as a trusted partner for organisations aiming to strengthen coaching standards and promote evidence-informed practice. Through our European and global network of sport federations, coach organisations, and universities, ICCE connects evidence, policy, and practice – supporting coherent coaching pathways and modern education frameworks grounded in sport’s core values.

Looking ahead, ICCE welcomes the European Commission’s commitment to continued dialogue and collaboration with the sport sector. The organisation looks forward to working with partners across Europe and beyond to advance coach education and coaching quality. Strengthening coaching systems will be key to translating policy priorities on wellbeing, equality, integrity, and participation into everyday practice across both grassroots and high-performance sport.