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Action Sports and the Olympic Games: Past, Present, Future

2022-1-FR02-KA152-YOU-0000630022022Mobility of young peopleongoing
Countries: FR|TR|PL|HU|PT · Grant: €27,564.5
Key competences developmentPhysical and mental health, well-being

Objectives

The youth exchange "Action Sports and the Olympic Games: Past, Present, Future" was a project created by 5 partners from France (Together Pan European network organisation asbl), Turkey (Hep Birlikte Genclik Dernegi), Poland (Warblers), Hungary (HunYouth), and Portugal (Janelas Entusiastas - Associação). The project included 2 activities: Preparatory Visit and Youth Exchange. It united 35 young people from partner countries in Damvillers, France, on the topic of sport and Olympic Games. All the partners valued the positive role that sport could play in the field of non-formal education. In the project, sport was a key tool to promote social and personal values such as team spirit, discipline, perseverance, and fair play. Sport also boosted knowledge, motivation, and skills: mens sana in corpore sano. For a sport activity to have had real and concrete value, the work of the coordinators and sport trainers played an essential role. All of them were provided with the theoretical framework, the skills, and the evidence base to do their work effectively. The partners of the project had experience in the organisation of non-formal activities. The more experienced assisted the newcomers to the topic. "Together France" particularly appreciated the fact that the project coordinators and young initiators were able to translate the very good principles they identified into enjoyable practical tools. They found the reflection in the program of the exchange. The applicant hoped that the approach presented would take root across Europe and be embraced by youth and all those interested in the field. Education Through Sport was one of the grandest usages of sport. Using the “moving people” motto and the settings in and around sport as a platform for empowering people and raising the social capital of society were some of the most positive impacts of the project. Physical activities provided value by themselves for each person taking part. But utilizing the situations and settings of sport and physical activity for learning processes added a valuable dimension – in fact, they added both value and values. This project was developed by young leaders of partner countries from their personal experiences with Education Through Sport, both from the learner’s and the trainer’s perspective. The project was an illustration of using sport and physical activity as tools in the learning process and thereby taking steps to stretch sport and physical activity beyond the project itself. The project used the approach of Education Through Sport and physical activities in the context of youth work on the basis of non-formal education, experiential learning, and active participation. The main objectives of the project were: To exchange and transfer knowledge, know-how aimed at improving the level of motivation and interest in daily physical activity and sport among European youth. To develop cooperation among youth organizations to implement joint projects in the sphere of youth involvement in an active lifestyle and sports in the future, promoting European values. To promote sport as an educational tool for social inclusion, especially for people with fewer opportunities. To popularize arm wrestling as a future Olympic sport. To deepen knowledge about EU measures in the field of sport under the Erasmus+ program. To provide knowledge and competences to develop new youth sport projects and encourage closer synergies and collaboration between youth work and the sport field.

Project partners (5)