Message from France Education international

Welcome to the 4th newsletter edition of the IDI4Sport project—an initiative dedicated to promoting inclusion for people with disabilities in and through sport in 6 European countries: Denmark, France, Greece, North Macedonia, Portugal and Spain. You can find more information about the project here.

At the end of July 2024, the IDI4Sport team gathered in Sèvres, France, for a key project meeting to review our progress and plan the next steps. This third transnational meeting was held to mark the end of the experimentation phase which ran from April to June 2024. 32 schools and sports clubs in the partner countries had the opportunity to test some of the best inclusive sport practices, highlighted in the training pathway created as part of this project, in their classes and sports groups. This meeting provided an opportunity to discuss initial feedback from teachers and sports coaches and to explore ways of further improving the resources already available.

As part of this gathering, we also organised a public event on the 30th of July around the theme 'How can we be active together in Europe?'. More than 50 people attended the event, coming from institutions, schools and charities. The morning session featured roundtables where experts from Greece, North Macedonia, Portugal, Spain and France explored best practices, innovative teaching methods, and the real-life impacts of the IDI4Sport project in schools and sport clubs across Europe. In the afternoon, the focus shifted to action. Participants had the opportunity to try out various inclusive sports.

The IDI4Sport project is about much more than just sports—it's about creating a more inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to be active, learn, and grow together. By providing training, resources, and opportunities to experience inclusive sports, we are working towards a Europe where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can participate and know they are valued.

“How can we be active together in Europe”

France Education international and the French National Research and Training Institute for Inclusive Education (INSEI) organised a day of exchanges on the 30th of July in Sèvres, France, around the theme "How can we be active together in Europe?"

Round Table 1: "Inclusion and Disability in and through Sport – IDI4Sport"

The event began with a roundtable discussing the IDI4Sport project, which brought together experts from several European countries to explore how sport can be a powerful tool for inclusion. The discussions highlighted common barriers faced by children with disabilities across Europe, such as inaccessible sports facilities, lack of training in inclusive practices, and limited funding. Despite these challenges, the project has shown how schools and sport clubs are striving to create environments where everyone can participate with 85 teachers and sport coaches involved in the project IDI4Sport in the partner countries. Participants emphasised the importance of providing teachers with the necessary tools and resources to organise inclusive sports activities. The IDI4Sport project, by providing directly applicable resources on how to implement inclusive sport practices in schools and sport clubs may be part of the answer. Siham Ghoufrane and Christina Lousta, two teachers who took part in the project and the round table, pointed out that some of the activities presented in the project, such as sitting volleyball, goalball, boccia and many others were effective ways to engage all students, with many expressing the positive impact of these activities in building confidence and self-esteem. The next steps would be to ensure that policy makers provide training for all teachers so that all schools and sports clubs know how to make sports lessons more inclusive for all children.

View or review the full 1st roundtable discussion on our YouTube channel! Tune in here.

Round Table 2: "The Paralympics: A Catalyst for Inclusive Sport in France and Europe"

The second roundtable focused on the transformative role of the major sport events, such as the Paralympic Games in promoting inclusion. Discussions emphasised the importance of expanding the definition of inclusion in sport and ensuring that every athlete is recognised and celebrated. Initiatives inspired by the upcoming 2024 Paralympic Games were highlighted, showcasing efforts to break down barriers and promote community engagement at the local level. The audience was particularly interested by the initiative led by the French Paralympic and Sports Committee called « Club Inclusif » for clubs wishing to open their doors to people with disabilities and who need support in doing so.

The round table was also an opportunity to shed light on athletes with mental disabilities, who are still largely excluded from major international competitions such as the Olympic Games. Celia Garrote, CEO of the Spanish Federation of Sports for People with Intellectual Disabilities (FEDDI), concluded her intervention by saying “Be curious, not judgmental. That is what I would say to everyone who works or doesn’t work with people with disabilities. You might not notice that someone has an intellectual impairment maybe after you talk for a while with them. I think we should try to not judge and explore the person we are with”.

At the end of the roundtable table, Jérôme Rousseau, CEO of Novosports, a NGO promoting inclusive sport practices, concluded the round table by inviting everyone to join the afternoon of demonstration of inclusive sport practices by saying “I'd like to spare a thought for those who are very close to people with disabilities and tell those who are less so to take the time to come and see how things are going, to share a moment, because that's how we'll be able to speak a common language and not just be about communication but really about operational things.”. Jérôme concluded with this invitation: ‘Take off your costumes, put on your sneakers and come and practice’. “

By embracing inclusive practices, sports can become a catalyst for a more equitable Europe. Through collaboration, advocacy, and innovative initiatives, such as IDI4Sport, Club Inclusif and all the initiatives carried out in the context of the Paralympic Games, we are not just shaping the future of sport—we're shaping a future where everyone has the opportunity to participate, a message largely shared by our panelists.

Catch the full 2nd roundtable discussion on our YouTube channel! Tune in here.

Inclusive Sports in Action: An Afternoon of Practice

In the afternoon, the project partners and the coordinator FEI participated in an interactive session with several inclusive sports, organised by NGO Novosports counting with some of their active members. It was held at a gymnasium kindly made available for us by the University of Paris-Nanterre. Attendees had the opportunity to try out activities such as BaskIn (inclusive basket), Rafroball (inclusive handball), Cross-Boccia (inclusive pétanque), and Pickleball. These sports are designed to be played by people of all abilities, providing a firsthand experience of how sports can be adapted to be truly inclusive. This hands-on session was a valuable demonstration of how such initiatives can foster understanding, cooperation, and fun for everyone involved. It highlighted the need to replicate these experiences more widely, so more people can be trained to organise inclusive sports activities in their communities. Together, let’s continue to champion inclusion, one game at a time!

Soon to come in IDI4Sport newsletter #4

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

• An update on the IDI4Sport project.
• 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: 30 September 2024.
• Final Conference.
• Policy Recommendations.
• European Label “Generation 2030”.

Disclaimer

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.