The final conference of the Radical (Ex) Change project, under the theme “Mitigating Radicalisation through Sport”, took place on 8 December 2022, in Athens, Greece, organised by the International Olympic Truce Centre. The conference was organized within the framework of ‘Network for the exchange of good practices on the integration of youngsters at risk of radicalisation through sport’ (Radical (Ex)Change) project.
Radical (Ex) Change is a two-year Preparatory Action funded by the European Commission Directorate-General for Education and Culture – Unit C4 (Sport), which aims at developing a collaborative network amongst the organisations working on Sport for Development and Peace and those engaged in the prevention of marginalisation and radicalisation (through sport or not).
The APPLE project (Approach to a Sporty and Healthy Lifestyle) held its final meeting in Rome in June 2022. 8 members of EMCA were involved in this project aimed at promoting all the aspects that make up a sporty and healthy lifestyle, such as physical activity, nutritional wellbeing, and mental, social and emotional wellbeing.
EMCA, represented by Bojan Mijatovic, was present at the EU Sport Forum in Lille, France. This year’s theme was ‘European Sport: fair, inclusive and fit for a sustainable future’, values which EMCA seeks to promote within its activities.
The EU Sport Forum is an annual event organized by the European Commission in support of the continuous dialogue with the European and international sport community. It is a central meeting point between sport organizations, representatives of the EU Institutions and Member States exchanging views on the current and future sport policies.
It has been a very challenging period and, at the end of it, we can count on more than 20 collaborative partnership presented by our network, plus two more Projects not directly drafted by EMCA, but with our Association as partner.
A visit to the nearby, where the upper floor holds a special exhibition of the history of Slovenian sports with a show of their Olympic achievements. The afternoon was in the light of launching the new 2-year campaign #HealthyLifestyle4All – merging the sport sector for the WHO, other health organisations and various nutrition entities. Pledges where made by the present participants and by video calls from sport dignitaries such as Thomas BACH and Gianni INFANTINO. Spyros CAPRALOS (EOC) made the pledge in person, as well as Witold BANKA (WADA President). An emotional presentation was made by the EC Ambassador Jorge PINA.
When the FHfW partners arrived in Italy, they were warmly welcomed by the I.C. Carducci school, the young students had painted the flags of the partner countries together with the European Union flag and placed it on the hockey field. This was an incredibly unexpected and beautiful gesture in that it symbolises the gratitude and friendship towards the European Union and Commission for the possibility to have been able to learn from such a meaningful project.
The project, the partners from Feyenoord (Quirine van Laack and Wessel Verhaar), Aalborg(Niels Christian Hejlesen and Anni Uggerholm-Nielsen) and HASK Mladost (Bojan Mijatovic and Nikola Hanzek) were presented to the school and Mrs. Paola Luzzi was kind enough to narrate the history of the school and its unique location in Rome (next to the antique Roman aqueducts) and introduce the partners to the scholars. After the presentations, the children began playing hockey on the field. The total number of children present and playing were 85. As turns had to be taken, two of the partners who play field hockey in their respective countries, Quirine van Laack and Nikola Hanzek played with the other children on the tar teaching everyone that field hockey is not only a game for everyone (male and female) but also a game that neccesitates few luxuries and can simply be played anywhere, on grass, on roads, pavements and any other flat surface. Nikola showed off a few of his hockey tricks leaving the children amazed at the techniques and increased knowledge about a sport that was unheard of to them just less than a year ago.
Folloiwing the matches and fun training, everyone sat together for cold drinks and of course pizza being in Italy J Snack time was followed by a prize giving where all the children were given project participation certificates and a hockey stick pen (pink, yellow or black). The encounter was a huge success and the children hugged their new friend goodbye before proceeding back to their school desks. After all their hard work and with time to spare before the various airplanes took off, Gabriella and Roberto guided the partners on a walking tour and lunch in Rome to express their gratitude for their essential contribution to the project’s success.
The project staff would like to thank the I.C. Carducci School for the hospitality and the compliment the teachers and the scholars for creating a wonderful event. The project staff would also like to thank the partners and the European Commission for the support in implementing a meaningful and successful project, without which the project and the joy it is bringing to the young children learning about field hockey would otherwise not be possible. We look forward to the next trip to Zagreb from the 1st to the 3rd of October!
The first project, European Day of Care (EDoC), co-funded by the European Commission, seeks to support all ex-athletes in their post-sport career to be reintegrated into society by inviting them to take part in a three-day course at the European University of Rome followed by a three-month internship within the Lazio multisport club. Prof. Claudia Navrini, PHD, accompanied Gabriella to explain the modules that have been studied for this three-day course ranging from soft skills to law and economics. (Click here to see the EDoC agenda).
The course will constitute 2 university credits validated and in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and supported by the Italian Government. 30 Presidents of the different Lazio sections were present in order to pass the message onto their athletes. This project sees its lead coordinator as Lazio Basket and partners Ferencvarosi Torna Club, Tampereen Pyrintö, HASK Mladost and Sporting Foundation Lisbon. Every week, rotating, each of these multisport clubs posts a story about one of their ex-athletes that has been able to excel at a post sport career and is being followed extensively. (Click here to read the stories).
Multisport Academy
The second project Multisport Academy, a mobility project co-funded by the European Parliament, aims at the exchange of knowledge and experiences between the partner countries (Italy, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece).
The first trip will take place in Italy from the 23rd – 27th September where the athletes will visit the Italian Federation for Blind (FISPIC), the Italian Paralympic Swimming Federation (FINP and CIP), the Italian Olympic Centre of Sports Medicine (CONI Medicina dello Sport), the University of Physical Education of Rome (IUSM) and the Paralympic sports center in Ostia (Centro Preparazione Paralimpico Ostia).
The participants will be present at the finals of the European football championships for Blind on the 24th of September. (click here to visit our calendar).
We would like to thank the European Union, Commission and Parliament for the confidence and support in our projects, without whom, none of this would be possible. We would also like to thank all the EMCA sport clubs involved for their hard work in carrying out the projects and all our stakeholders mentioned above for their support in helping us achieve our project goals. A final thank you to Mr. Giuseppe Palma for organising such a wonderful event.
The European Multisport Club Association will play an important role in the Awards, since entries are to be submitted from 1st July to 2nd August to the European Commission by National Coordinating Bodies and by Partners of the European Week of Sport.
The Awards have been created to support projects and individuals dedicated to the promotion of sport and physical activity across Europe. The awards have three categories:
#BeActive Education Award
This award is intended to throw the spotlight on an educational setting that can demonstrate concrete ways in which it encouraged its kids to #BeActive in addition to the sport/physical activity classes in the standard curriculum. This could include extra sport activities, physically active class days out, after school activities, and other creative solutions to form an active education environment.
#BeActive Workplace Award
This award is intended to accolade a workplace that can demonstrate specific ways in which it has encouraged and helped its employees to #BeActive. This could include setting up a staff taskforce responsible for promoting physical activity, provision of showers for cycling/running commuters, standing meetings, lunchtime walks and other creative solutions to form an active working environment.
#BeActive Local Hero Award
This award honours an individual achievement to motivate others and act as a catalyst to #BeActive. The spirit of the award aims to recognising an individual who has worked consistently to promote participation in sport and/or physical activity in his or her local community.
Focusing on educational establishments and workplaces, as well as individuals in local communities, the awards competition contributes to the local and human dimension of the Week, while showcasing best-practice projects, and introducing inspiring individuals, to a Pan-European audience.
The first part of the meeting, next 3rd June, is taking place at Circolo Canottieri Lazio, while in the second part – the 4th June – partners will visit Istituto Comprensivo Carducci in Rome.
The full programme of the event can be found here.
