“United for Inclusion” Events during European Week of Sport promote refugee integration

September 16, 2022

To mark this years’ European Week of Sport, partners of the Sport Inclusion (SPIN) network, in cooperation with the partners of the Sport Together project, are launching the “United for Inclusion” campaign. 

More than 25 sport events across 12 countries (Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Serbia) will connect local sport clubs with refugees and asylum seekers during the European Week of Sport. The campaign supports sport clubs and refugee initiatives across the project countries during and around the European Week of Sport 2022 (23 – 30 September). Participating sport organisations are opening their doors and offer opportunities with the aim to establish equal partnerships between clubs and people with a refugee background in the years to come.

Earlier this summer, the SPIN Refugees project issued an online call to invite (grassroot) sport clubs who are eager to connect with refugees and asylum seekers and offer ways for more active involvement on a local level. For many newly arrived people, sport provides a vital opportunity to meet locals, take the first steps of integrating into society and build good and lasting relations. 

Among the numerous applications received, 17 have been selected for a financial support of up to 2.800 Euros each. From football, cricket, and volleyball tournaments to swimming courses for women and men, from charity runs to dance competitions, a variety of events across the project countries is going to be held in the coming weeks, involving hundreds of refugees and asylum seekers. 

The “United for Inclusion” campaign is carried out as part of the EU-funded projects SPIN Refugees and Sport Together. The European Week of Sport (#BeActice) was launched by the EU in 2015 to respond to the growing crisis of inactivity. Sport and physical activity can make a significant contribution to the well-being of millions of people in Europe and beyond. 

The full list of events will be published shortly.

Campaign material

As part of the “United for Inclusion” campaign, a range of materials have been produced, including banners, sport bibs, gym bags and posters.

The campaign is open to all. We invite groups and individuals across Europe to join the campaign! If you want to organise your own “United for Inclusion” event, please download our electronic campaign material:

Downloads:

 For the latest updates, follow our coverage of these and more SPIN Network activities on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter and on sportinclusion.net.  

 Hashtags:

#BeActive
#UnitedforInclusion
#WithRefugees

For more information and any queries contact Stefan Belabed at VIDC-fairplay initiative (belabed@vidc.org).

 www.sportinclusion.net

https://www.fairplay.or.at/en/projects/sport-together

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