The European Commission has awarded grants ranging from €125,000 to €200,000 to support initiatives aimed at tackling violence and intolerance in sport. In particular, twelve trans-national projects have received these grants as part of a package of 'preparatory actions' intended to pave the way for the launch of an EU sub-programme for sport.

Twelve trans-national projects have received grants ranging from €125,000 to €200,000 from the European Commission as part a package of 'preparatory actions' intended to pave the way for the launch of an EU sub-programme for sport, which would also support grassroots campaigns to promote physical activity, social inclusion through sport, and the fight against doping.

The 2011 preparatory actions supports covers on one hand, prevention of and fight against violence and intolerance in sport. Projects selected in this area support innovative trans-national networks focused on the prevention of and fight against violence and discrimination. The funding supports the exchange of good practices between the sport sector, educational institutions, supporters' organisations, non-governmental organisations and national and local authorities with the aim of promoting respect for fundamental European values in sport. On the other hand, preparation actions cover the promotion of innovative approaches to strengthen the organisation of sport in Europe: Good governance is a precondition for the autonomy and self-regulation of sport organisations. The funding supports trans-national networks aimed at developing a European dimension in sport. These networks also seek to strengthen the administrative capacity of sport organisations and to increase the competitive level of sport in Europe.

The EU's role is to support, supplement and coordinate actions by the Member States and to develop a European dimension in sport according to the Lisbon Treaty. Furthermore, the proposed EU sport sub-programme will be part a broader programme supporting education, training, and youth ('Erasmus for All'), which is due to be adopted by the Commission later this month. The Commission has proposed €15.2 billion in funding for the Erasmus for All programme between 2014 and 2020.