Message from France Education International

For two years now, we have been working on ways to improve access to sport for people with disabilities with various experts across 6 European countries: Denmark, France, Greece, North Macedonia, Portugal and Spain. Based on the consortium research to achieve this objective, our Portuguese partner IPDJ, along with the associated partner APCAS, created a training pathway comprising a number of technical modules that highlight the best practices put in place in Europe. The consortium is proud of the initial results of the project, which are based on a fruitful collaboration and is about to complete its experimental phase.

We now thank the Olympic Committee of North Macedonia (OCNM) for its great job at piloting the experimentation phase!

State of art of IDI4SPORT

After finalising the national reports on good practices and the training pathway that provides teachers and sports educators with information on how to implement them in their classes or sports clubs, the project has moved on to its main phase: the experimentation. The experimentation is now nearing completion, and we are embarking on the evaluation process. Here the illustration of localisation of all institutions, sport clubs and schools which took part in the experimentation phase. You will find a link below this map to see the detailed information about it.

The experimentation phase of IDI4SPORT

A wide range of resources, including a training pathway and videos, were made available to teachers and sports coaches during the experimentation. It lasted three months, from April to June 2024, and took place in over thirty-five schools and sports clubs in six European countries. The training consisted of a course on inclusive sport and the various possible sporting adaptations. It also showed how to implement them in classes and sports centres so that everyone, whatever their disability, can take part in adapted sports activities. Numerous examples of different adapted practices were used to illustrate the training. Examples include sports such as sitting volleyball, cross boccia, goalball, adapted swimming, polybat and many others.

The experimentation was successfully completed, enabling exchanges between teachers and sports coaches on their motivation to offer sports activities adapted to all and to encourage exchanges of practices. More broadly, this project has helped to promote the issue of inclusion in and through sport and the needs in this area, by raising the awareness of stakeholders at a higher level (national education ministries in the countries concerned, sports federations, etc.).

In the words of Monika Naumovska, project manager at OCNM: “The selected clubs and schools saw outstanding results, enhancing social cohesion among young people with disabilities through enjoyable sports activities. Both students with and without disabilities learned the unifying power of sport, breaking down barriers and fostering team spirit. Additionally, the teachers and coaches have expressed great satisfaction with the proposed motivating exercises, praising their positive impact. They are committed to incorporating this pathway into their programs whenever possible in the coming year, recognizing its value in promoting inclusivity and teamwork. On the other hand, inclusive sports activities have shown that when young people with and without disabilities come together, they not only enjoy the fun but also build lasting bonds, highlighting the power of unity and community through sport”.

Olympic and Paralympic context of the project

France is fortunate to host the Olympic and, more importantly, Paralympic Games this summer, presenting a fantastic opportunity to showcase our project. These Games are among the most significant events uniting athletes with and without disabilities. The Paralympic Games play a crucial role in promoting sport for all by showcasing the incredible achievements of athletes with disabilities and raising awareness about the importance of inclusivity. By celebrating the determination and skill of Paralympic athletes, society is encouraged to break down barriers, ensuring sports are accessible to everyone, from professional athletes to amateurs of all abilities. Seizing this opportunity, IDI4SPORT is organising a special conference in Sèvres, near Paris, dedicated to inclusiveness in sport and the legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The third Transnational Project Meeting

We are pleased with the work done so far with all the consortium members and look forward to continuing the project, especially at the next consortium meeting in Paris. On 30 July 2024, FEI and INSEI will host a public day on the theme: ‘How can we be active together in France and Europe’.

The morning will be an opportunity to present our project to the public to share our experience and the aim of the project. This event will bring together various experts in the field of inclusive sport and our European partners to discuss the subject. French and European experts will also present their analysis of the role of the Paralympic Games as a catalyst for sport for all in France and Europe.

The event will continue in the afternoon with inclusive sport activities where all participants will be invited to try out adapted practices such as Boccia, BaskIN, Rafroball and others. Led by the French association Novosports, this programme will enable us to discover sport from a different angle. The programme, information about the location and registration link is available here. Come and join us in Sèvres for an unforgettable day!

Soon to come in IDI4Sport newsletter #4

The next newsletter will be published in September 2024 and will provide the following information:

• An update on the IDI4Sport project.
• Overview and conclusions of the transnational project meeting and conference celebrated in July 2024 in Paris.
• Information on the 4th transnational meeting of the project to be held in Spain in early 2025.
• And much more to come.

Project´s Agenda

• Next transnational project meeting in Madrid in early 2025.
• Report of the activities implemented during the experimentation phase.
• Risk management plan.
• Advisory board.
• Sustainability plan.
• Evaluation methodology.
• Evaluation report.
• Creation of qualitative and quantitative indicators.
• Final Conference.
• Policy Recommendations.
• European Label “Generation 2030”.

Disclaimer

The IDI4SPORT Project is Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.