On 21 September, EU Member States’ Directors General responsible for sport met in Dublin under the Irish Presidency to discuss sports policy, including the promotion of traditional sports and games. This was followed on 22 September by the Presidency Conference on Traditional Sports and Games. The Irish Presidency has identified traditional sports as a focus of its work on sporting heritage and emphasised their role in participation, social cohesion, inclusion and volunteering.

The Presidency is also placing a particular emphasis on the grassroots and community dimension of traditional sports. At the conference, Irish Minister of State for Sport Charlie McConalogue described traditional sports and games as grassroots and community-based organisations and highlighted their contribution to lifelong physical activity, inclusion and volunteering. The conference brought together representatives of national and international sports organisations, policymakers, practitioners and academics to exchange practices and discuss how traditional sports can continue to develop and engage different groups across Europe.