This years’ European Week of Sport will be held from the 23rd to the 30th of September. Within the European SPIN Women project, actions and events are taking place in seven EU countries.
In a dediacted campaign the Sport Inclusion Network (SPIN) is highlighting the need for the removal of barriers and the full participation of migrant girls and women in sport. In particular, grassroots activities enhancing the inclusion of migrant and minority women and girls in and through sport are supported and made visible. The activities are facilitated by or actively involve female minorities and migrants as initiators, trainers, athletes, officials, club members, fans etc.
Women’s and minority sport clubs and initiatives as well as (female) refugee organisations cooperate to raise awareness about the dangers of exclusion, discrimination, ethnic stereotypes and prejudice. Through the events diversity is celebrated and the need for equal opportunities for ethnic minority and migrant women and girls will be highlighted.
Austria
In Austria the activities already held 2019 will be continued also this year in order for further contributing to their success and enhancing sustainable cooperations.
On the one hand, we will support the participation of women and girls in the event “Lebens-Lauf” of the asylum coordination on 4 October in the park Oberlaa in Vienna. In this charity run for an open refugee policy, there is a children’s run (1000m), a main run (5000m) and Nordic walking over 5 km. Supporters can facilitate the participation of refugees through sponsorship (registration & information at www.lebens-lauf.at).
On the other hand, DSG Ferlach will hold a “Game play feast for Children” on Friday 18 September. There will be a fairplay microsoccer workshop station and a station facilitated by a female football coach that is directed to girls from the local refugee shelter.
Due to the Corona-pandemic the planned second edition of women’s tournaments at the annual sport festival of the Afghan Sport and Cultural Association New Start cannot take place as planned.
Germany
In Germany the organisation “Champions Ohne Grenzen” (Champions without borders) is organizing training visits in football clubs for refugee/migrant women and girls from 19 to 26 September.
Following this, a first women’s leisure football league will be launched with a football tournament on 26 September. The first part of the action will be the visit of female refugees aged between 13-40 to different female football clubs, teams and initiatives in Berlin. These visits will take place during the training time of every team. The training visits will give female refugees and migrants the opportunity to discover the local grass-root football landscape. There will also be the chance to raise awareness within these organizations about the situation of female refugees and how they can improve their inclusion in their organisation.
The second part is the launch of a football leisure league for women and girls. It will be a league between non-competitive women* teams from Berlin. The teams have different target groups (women/lesbians/trans/inter*) and all aim to make football more accessible for all women*.
The launch of the league will take place on Saturday 26 September. It will be divided into two sport fields. Despite the COVID-19 guidelines we wish to offer a festive sport event, with music and food which will encourage sport and social togetherness.
Hungary
In Hungary on 26 September the event “Sport Welcomes Roma People” will be held in Tiszabura. 70% of the local population are Roma, many of them suffering through exclusion and discrimination. This sport event aims at opening local clubs for Roma and enhancing their participation in sports. In particular girls are targeted through this activity.
There will be a 5-aside football tournament and a table tennis competition. Local authorities are involved as well as refugees and asylum seekers living in the neighborhood.
Italy
In Italy we will support the project “Sport al femminile”. This is a sport initiative for women and girls with a strong focus on migrant communities who want to participate in sport. There will be swimming, volleyball and gymnastics. There will be two events during the EWoS: on the 24th a workshop on migrant women and sport, where the so far outcomes of SPIN WOMEN project will be presented, and on 27th the inauguration of the Swimming Pool season.
Ireland
With the support of the SPIN partner Football Association of Ireland (FAI) the Cork Sports Partnership will also focus on social inclusion and equal opportunities for women and girls with migrant or ethnic football clubs hosting open sessions in order for reaching increased participation in sports and recreational physical activities.
The Football clubs Macroom A.F.C. and Clonacilty AFC are hosting open sessions providing girls aged 12 years+ the opportunity to try soccer in a fun and supportive environment.
About the project “Sport Inclusion of Migrant and Minority Women” (SPIN Women)
The objective of this pan-European project is to encourage social inclusion and equal opportunities of women and girls with an immigrant or ethnic minority background through increased participation in sports and recreational physical activities. Looking at society at large, migrant and ethnic minority women are belonging to the most excluded and vulnerable groups in Europe. That’s why SPIN Women is designed to show the different perspectives of migrant and ethnic minority women and to develop strategies to increase their involvement in sports.
The SPIN Women project is co-funded under the Erasmus+ programme of the European Commission.
About European Week of Sport (EWoS)
The week aims to help people become more active and use the inclusive power of sport in European societies. It was launched by the European Commission in 2015 to response to the inactivity crises and raise the level of physical activity. Since then the Week has continued to grow year after year, 2018 already 12 million people participated at the European Week of Sport.
The SPIN network produced a series of “girl power” campaign material including a poster, sticker, training bibs and banners, which will all used by the partners and local groups to disseminate an inclusive message during the EWoS 2020.
Please find updated information about our activities during EWoS 2020 here.