Between Sport and Physical Activity: Ambiguities in EU Policy and Regenerative Actions

In our analysis, we will first outline the EU policy on sport and physical activity, which initially aims at the psychophysical improvement of European citizens. We will then analyse the ambiguous reception and use of the terms “sport” and “physical activity” by the EU in official documents and guidelines of the European Parliament and the Commission. The focus will shift to new lifestyles shared by more and more people in most EU Member States and to “regenerative actions” taken especially during and after the pandemic. Finally, we will see how, through this - albeit slow - development of jurisprudence, an attempt was ultimately made to promote the mobilisation of territorial institutions and organisations to protect and promote the psychophysical and social well-being of individual European citizens and communities.