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Inclusion first

Where the story began

INCLUSION PLUS builds on the experience and partnerships developed through the earlier Erasmus+ project INCLUSION FIRST.

The new project continues the central idea of social inclusion through sport, while adding a stronger international dimension and a new focus on sport diplomacy.

INCLUSION FIRST created a foundation of experience, partnerships and stories.

INCLUSION PLUS
takes that foundation further.

  • From inclusion to diplomacy.

  • From local experiences to European perspectives.

  • From individual stories to a shared platform.

Discover the journey that came before INCLUSION PLUS.

INCLUSION FIRST: Erasmus+ Project Drives Social Integration through Sport

The INCLUSION FIRST project shone a spotlight on social inclusion through the values of sports. Its strategic objective was to promote recent developments in the EU's sports sector. At its heart lay "RUN AND SMILE," a collection of inspirational stories featuring insights from 24 personalities on various facets of social inclusion. Their motivational journeys were interwoven with pertinent EU sports policies.

A key goal of the project was to bring EU sports policies closer to non-governmental sports organizations, making them more accessible and understandable for stakeholders at all levels, including the local level. This objective was pursued notably through the INCLUSION FIRST platform.

The project name cleverly underscored its focus on prioritizing inclusion while also serving as an acronym for its five core elements: FRIENDSHIP, INNOVATIONS, RUNNING, SUSTAINABILITY, TEAMWORK.

The project consortium aimed to concentrate on the latest EU sports agenda, including the sport policies outlined in the EU Work Plan for Sport (2021-2024) and the priorities of the EU's Erasmus+ programme (2021-2027) in the sports sector. Mainly, the consortium developed Council conclusions on sport as a platform for social inclusion, as devised during the Maltese Presidency, and Council conclusions on sport diplomacy, as formulated during the Slovak Presidency. By collaborating with selected countries, the project provided follow-up on the EU sports agenda set forth during the presidencies of Malta and Slovakia in the Council of the EU.

Digital, environmentally friendly, and innovative, the project placed significant emphasis on the green and digital transitions, aligning with the priorities of the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme and the relevant call for proposals.

The project underlined the call's scope and was designed with small-scale partnerships in mind. It broadened access to the programme for small-scale actors and individuals who were traditionally hard to reach in the sports sector. Furthermore, the project contributed to the establishment and growth of transnational networks and fostered synergies among local, regional, national, and international policies. The INCLUSION FIRST project shone a spotlight on social inclusion through the values of sports. Its strategic objective was to promote recent developments in the EU's sports sector. At its heart lay "RUN AND SMILE," a collection of inspirational stories featuring insights from 24 personalities on various facets of social inclusion. Their motivational journeys were interwoven with pertinent EU sports policies.

A key goal of the project was to bring EU sports policies closer to non-governmental sports organizations, making them more accessible and understandable for stakeholders at all levels, including the local level. This objective was pursued notably through the INCLUSION FIRST platform.

The project name cleverly underscored its focus on prioritizing inclusion while also serving as an acronym for its five core elements: FRIENDSHIP, INNOVATIONS, RUNNING, SUSTAINABILITY, TEAMWORK.

The project consortium aimed to concentrate on the latest EU sports agenda, including the sport policies outlined in the EU Work Plan for Sport (2021-2024) and the priorities of the EU's Erasmus+ programme (2021-2027) in the sports sector. Mainly, the consortium developed Council conclusions on sport as a platform for social inclusion, as devised during the Maltese Presidency, and Council conclusions on sport diplomacy, as formulated during the Slovak Presidency. By collaborating with selected countries, the project provided follow-up on the EU sports agenda set forth during the presidencies of Malta and Slovakia in the Council of the EU.

Digital, environmentally friendly, and innovative, the project placed significant emphasis on the green and digital transitions, aligning with the priorities of the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme and the relevant call for proposals.

The project underlined the call's scope and was designed with small-scale partnerships in mind. It broadened access to the programme for small-scale actors and individuals who were traditionally hard to reach in the sports sector. Furthermore, the project contributed to the establishment and growth of transnational networks and fostered synergies among local, regional, national, and international policies.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.