The SPORTS INC project aimed to achieve several key objectives focused on enhancing inclusivity and social entrepreneurship within the sports and leisure sectors. The primary goals were: 1. Develop an Inclusive Learning Program: To equip entrepreneurs and civil society organizations with the skills needed to create and market inclusive sports and leisure services for people with disabilities. 2. Identify Challenges and Skill Gaps: To map out challenges and required competences in inclusive sports and leisure, informing the learning program. 3. Promote a Strategic Approach: To foster a systemic approach to leveraging opportunities in inclusive sports and leisure through validated action plans. 4. Ensure Broad Dissemination and Sustainability: To widely share and sustain the project's outcomes, ensuring long-term impact. 5. Enhance Competences in Civil Society Organizations: To strengthen the capabilities of adult educators and organizations in supporting inclusive entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. These objectives were integral to promoting social inclusion and creating sustainable business opportunities within the sports and active leisure sectors.
The SPORTS INC project was initiated to tackle significant challenges faced by people with disabilities, who made up 25% of the European population. Despite some progress over the years, this group continued to encounter substantial barriers in accessing education, employment, and recreational activities, leading to a higher risk of social exclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated these issues, underscoring the urgent need for greater inclusion and support. The primary motivation behind the SPORTS INC project was to address these barriers by promoting social entrepreneurship and enhancing the inclusivity of sports and leisure activities. The project aimed to equip prospective and existing entrepreneurs, as well as civil society organizations, with the necessary knowledge, skills, and competences to create and market inclusive services or products. This included understanding the needs of people with disabilities and special needs, ensuring accessibility, and fostering a more inclusive society. By focusing on both inclusiveness and business opportunities, SPORTS INC sought to transform perceptions and practices, and encouraged the development of inclusive models within the sports and active leisure sectors.