Preliminary General Program

Could Sport for All be the blueprint for a better future?

At a time when the world is in need of for connection, resilience, and shared purpose, there is an opportunity for us to reimagine Sport for All – not as an optional extra, but as an essential driver of inclusion, equity, and harmony.

“Sport for All: Building Bridges for Inclusion, Equity, and Harmony” highlights the potential of Sport for All as a powerful tool for systemic change. It breaks down walls, moves beyond borders, and speaks across generations. It is a public good that belongs to everyone.

Collectively, we will explore how Sport for All can:

• Bridge Generations by creating shared spaces for empathy, learning, and connection across age groups.
• Empower Communities by building local capacity, amplifying lived experiences, and supporting grassroots leadership.
• Connect Societies by fostering mutual understanding and cooperation across cultural, geographic, and social divides.

The Opening Keynotes set the tone for the Congress. We see the Congress as a call for collective action, inspiring participants and providing them with practical ideas to spark new initiatives, foster powerful alliances, and prompt action that extends far beyond Prague. Together, we aim to explore how to build bridges where walls have stood, foster inclusion where gaps exist, and cultivate harmony where it is needed most.

As generational gaps are increasingly prevalent, in habits, cultures, lifestyles, but more importantly communication and social connections, intergenerational physical activity models provide a way to reconnect children, youth, and the elderly together. Presenting various examples from different contexts and cultures, the session will encourage participants to draw inspiration from case studies to develop interventions for their communities.

Nearly half of the world’s population is under 30, yet the youth remain heavily underrepresented in leadership positions, a statistic that remains valid in Sport for All. When youth have access to leadership opportunities, we see higher civic engagement, greater contribution to communities and social change, better understanding and tackling of the challenges youth face, but also enhancements in sustainability and innovation due to the benefits intergenerational leadership bring.

From mentoring and equipping youth with the skills and experience to thrive, to providing them with a platform to access leadership positions, how can we create an environment that effectively fosters youth leadership in Sport for All?

Sport and environmental sustainability should go hand in hand. After all, seas, mountains, forests, and fields constitute the playground of many sport activities. Yet, sport and the sport industry are at times contributing to the climate crisis, which affects natural environments and threatens human existence.

From changing organizational models to implementing policies and guidelines promoting sustainability, sport can reduce its environmental impact and lead by example to effect change. As the climate crisis disproportionately affects vulnerable communities, can sport rise to the challenge and not only become more sustainable but also champion climate justice?.

Social change often starts from the grassroots, at the community-level. In the field of Sport for All, local leaders and organizations are the direct connection to citizens and populations. Because they belong to the community they serve, know their members, and understand their needs, they are best suited to implement initiatives that directly enhance the lives of people.

From educational schemes and trainings to collecting and sharing experiences, how do we connect with local organizations and leaders and equip them with the tools, knowledge, and expertise to further enhance their positive impact on communities?

This session brings the Girls Positive and Safe Coaching Pathway to life through the voices of those implementing it on the ground. Coaches and trainers share how Pathway principles are shaping everyday coaching practice, strengthening trust, and creating environments where girls feel safe, valued, and supported. Grounded in real experience, the session highlights how small shifts in mindset and behavior can lead to meaningful change in teams, communities, and sport settings.

With television and smartphones as most notable offenders, the increase in screentime disproportionately affects youth and is regularly blamed (rightfully so or not) for its perceived negative consequences, which includes physical inactivity. But omnipresent as they are, digital tools can also become solutions to promote physical activity and turn “screentime” in a fulfilling, positive experience. How do we seize the potential of digital tools and resources to promote physical activity, while ensuring that inequalities of access to them and the digital divide do not further ostracize marginalized communities?

Over 300 million international migrants have moved from their home country globally, including forcibly displaced populations. As refugees and migrants are faced with multiple challenges, some life-threatening, sport and physical activity may seem a very secondary issue. Yet sport can play a critical role in supporting integration and fostering a sense of belonging within the local community. How can sport contribute to relief and enhance the lives of refugees, migrants, and the communities hosting them?

How can we better create and develop partnerships between public, private, and non-profit actors to share their expertise, resources, and mandates to identify synergies, increase their impact, and ultimately enhance community empowerment through sports?

First debate | The funders’ demand for evidence and impact metrics: a means to increase success and effectiveness or a hurdle for local and grassroots initiatives?

This session will explore whether the increasing demand for extensive impact metrics set by funders prevent grassroots and community initiatives from receiving funding.

Second debate | Reaching the balance: do we need quotas for inclusion?

While quotas do effectively increase representation, some argue this is artificial, or might even turn out to be counterproductive. Do we need quotas for inclusion?

As generational gaps are increasingly prevalent, in habits, cultures, lifestyles, but more importantly communication and social connections, intergenerational physical activity models provide a way to reconnect children, youth, and the elderly together. Presenting various examples from different contexts and cultures, the session will encourage participants to draw inspiration from case studies to develop interventions for their communities.

This session explores how regional and international actors can build effective, mutually beneficial collaborations in Sport for All, moving from diplomatic engagement to tangible cooperation. It will highlight key principles, practical strategies, and real-world examples that lead to sustainable partnerships and shared success.

Open and public spaces represent a great and often untapped resource to promote active lifestyles. Beyond the health benefits, they can also promote social inclusion and be at the heart of community life. How can we redesign public spaces to be inclusive, promote health and well-being, and create a sense of belonging and ownership for citizens?

This session explores the dual role of sport as both a unifying and divisive force in society. While sport is often celebrated as a “universal language” that transcends borders, cultures, and ideologies, it can also be misused to deepen divisions and reinforce exclusivity. The discussion examines how sport can serve as a meaningful platform for mutual understanding, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding, particularly in a world increasingly marked by polarization and identity-based tensions. It highlights ways in which sport can be ethically and effectively leveraged to foster reconciliation, solidarity, and social cohesion across diverse communities.

Mixed teams should find and go through several points (interesting sightseeing points of interest) and complete minor tasks. The teams are given the city map with a plotted route. Organized by the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport.

At the same time workshops and performances take place at the courtyard (parking place) in front of the Tyrš House. Participants can try historical fencing, twirling, Czech folk dancing, and learn more about the history of the venue, Tyrš House, during guided tours.

During breaks, participants can watch performances by instructors from the workshops on stage.