Strasbourg, 10/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - More than 150 sports and youth experts will be meeting in Strasbourg on 13 and 14 May for a huge event organised by the Council of Europe entitled: European Crossroads - sport as a gateway to democracy. The conference will look at innovative sports policies for young people and ways of increasing their involvement in sport, including managing sporting events. The keynote address will be given by the Council of Europe Secretary General, Walter Schwimmer, and the head of the sports unit at the European Commission, Jaime Andreu. Several workshops will be held with athletes and top level trainers and sports managers. Participants include Polish athletics Olympic gold medallist Robert Korzeniowski, Italian Olympic gold medallist ski champion Manuela Di Centa, and French national Béatrice Hess, Para-Olympic swimming gold medallist.