You have probably heard the term “European Sport Model” (ESM). But what does it actually mean? Where does it come from? And does it still describe the world you work in every day?

This tool gives you the essentials. Three short topics:

1. Where did the ESM come from?: A brief history
2. The six principles: What the model claims to stand for
3. Why it matters today: What the research tells us, and why you should care

If you marked in Tool 1 “not familiar with ESM” → you are in the right place.

A critical note from the outset: The ESM does not holistically capture how the majority of sports are organised and how European citizens engage with physical activity. This is not a new observation – it has been recognised at the highest level of European policymaking since the very year the term was coined. Understanding why is the purpose of this tool.

How this tool works:  Three topics, each taking about from 5 to 10 minutes. You can complete them in order or jump to specific topics. Each topic ends with a quick quiz to check your understanding.