There are 50 sovereign states that make up the continent of Europe, as well as six regions or territories that are partially recognised. These states and territories are home to over 700 million inhabitants, all known as “Europeans” but whose diversity is evident in the areas of language, religion, government, philosophy, culture, economy, etc. When speaking of a “European culture,” it is difficult to separate the overlapping, cross-cultural diversities that make up the “culture” of this vast continent. In the area of European sports, however, we can speak in terms of similarities and differences, all of which contribute to form a healthy blend of apolitical, cross-cultural cooperation and understanding.
In recent years, attitudes to sports as a means of fostering intercultural harmony have been a strong force behind the policies and treaties of the European nations. In 2008, against the backdrop of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, European Union (EU) sports ministers adopted a joint declaration on Social Significance and Dialogue in Sport. A declaration was also appended to the Amsterdam Treaty of 1997, emphasising the “social significance of sport, in particular, its role in forging identity and bringing people together.” In terms of the most popular sport in Europe, football is number one. Governed by a pan-European body called the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), there are over 50 national football associations, whose official languages are English, German, and French. Other popular European sports include basketball, volleyball, ice hockey, bicycle racing, and rugby.