Posters

Introduction: “Move & Discover: Inclusive Urban Orienteering” is a planned activity for Tallinn Maritime Days in the 10–12^th of July 2026 at Seaplane Harbour. This initiative invites residents and visitors to explore the waterfront through a playful navigation experience that blends movement with maritime culture. By leveraging a high-footfall cultural festival, the project creates an accessible entry point to the Sport for All movement.

Aims / Purpose / Project Idea: The primary objectives are to lower participation barriers through an open-start format, connect participants with local maritime heritage via themed checkpoints, and spark long-term engagement in active city life. The project aligns with Tallinn 2035 aims for healthy, people-centric public spaces and embodies TAFISA principles of "Active Cities for All".

Materials and Methods: The event utilizes a non-competitive, barrier-light format. Participants receive a colorful A4 map to navigate a clearly marked route suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. Methods to ensure inclusion include multilingual instructions (EE/EN/RU), visible welcome points, and volunteer "buddies" to assist first-time participants.

Results: Expected outcomes include one major public event engaging approximately 250 participants. Key quantitative targets include at least 40% youth participation, 50% female participation, and a completion rate of at least 85%. Qualitative success is defined by a participant satisfaction rating of >80%.

Discussion: This initiative addresses the need for low-threshold physical activity by removing equipment costs and skill requirements. By integrating sport into a cultural festival, it demonstrates how physical activity can naturally blend with community life to reach families with fewer opportunities and newcomers.

Conclusion: The project provides a sustainable and replicable "plug-in" model for urban festivals. It strengthens the link between culture and movement, contributing to the development of inclusive, health-promoting public spaces in alignment with REACH and TAFISA objectives.

Introduction: Quadball (formerly Quidditch) has evolved from a fantasy-inspired game into a fully organized, mixed-gender contact sport played in over 40 countries. Governed by the International Quadball Association (IQA), the sport was intentionally designed to promote inclusion, respect, and community connection. Its core rule—requiring no more than four players of the same gender on the field—embodies gender equity and inclusion in practice rather than principle.

Aims / Purpose / Project Idea: This project explores how quadball’s structure, governance, and community culture contribute to “Sport for All” by fostering belonging among marginalized groups, advancing gender inclusion, and connecting societies across cultural and national lines. The initiative highlights lessons from the IQA’s global development, regional collaborations, and its alignment with movements such as TAFISA and ILGA World.

Materials and Methods: Data were drawn from participant surveys, policy reviews, and qualitative interviews conducted with athletes and administrators from 15 member nations between 2022 and 2025. Supplementary sources included the IQA Gender Policy, competition frameworks, and national association governance models. The analysis emphasized lived experiences, accessibility efforts, and inclusive leadership practices.

Results: Findings indicate that quadball participants report high levels of psychological safety, gender affirmation, and community belonging. Over 70% of respondents identified inclusion as their primary motivation for joining. Member organizations that adopted explicit diversity and safeguarding policies experienced greater retention and cross-community engagement.

Discussion: Quadball demonstrates how a grassroots, youth-led sport can model inclusive governance and equitable participation. Its bottom-up structure empowers local leaders, bridges cultural differences, and redefines gender norms in sport. The sport’s approach to safety, integrity, and respect may inform broader “Sport for All” frameworks, especially in contexts where traditional sports remain exclusionary.

Conclusion: Quadball provides a replicable, evidence-based model for using sport as a tool for inclusion, empowerment, and harmony. Through intentional rules, equitable leadership, and global cooperation, it transforms play into a bridge—connecting generations, communities, and societies.

Introduction: Developed in 2006 by Korean founder Hu Kwang, Hangung is an innovative Korean Traditional Sport & Game (TSG) that reinterprets traditional Korean games like Tuho and Gungdo. Hangung is designed to be easily and safely enjoyed by anyone, regardless of age or physical ability. Hangung has embodied the TAFISA 'Sport for All' spirit, contributing to health promotion, strengthened family bonds and social integration.

Concept and Methodology: Hangung is a non-contact sport where participants use both hands to throw safe, magnetic Hangung pins at an IT-based automatic scoring target board. This dual-hand stretching and throwing method effectively enhances physical flexibility and bilateral balance. It simultaneously activates both brain hemispheres, improving concentration and brain development in youth, and notably boosting cognitive function, preventing dementia, and aiding rehabilitation in older adults, thereby validating its value as a 'Brain Sport.'

As a 'Family Sport,' Hangung is safely accessible to all, with adjustable throwing distances and target heights. This customizable environment promotes intergenerational interaction, allowing family members to compete and enjoy together on equal terms, thus fostering empathy and strengthening social cohesion. Furthermore, Hangung tournaments create a platform for harmony, realizing values of peace and inclusion for both able-bodied individuals and those with disabilities.

Impact and Recognition: The World Hangung Association was officially recognized in 2015 as an International Member of TAFISA, and Hangung was accredited as a representative Korea TSG. In 2017, founder Hu received the TAFISA 'Pioneer Sport for All Award' for creating and widely disseminating Hangung as a sport for older adults. Hangung was adopted as a recognized sport in 2021 by the Korea Sport & Olympic Committee and the Korea Paralympic Committee. Internationally, Hangung has gained recognition as a sport for older adults and individuals with disabilities in countries such as Japan and the United States.

Conclusion and Outlook: Hangung embodies the true 'Sport for All' spirit, offering comprehensive benefits across physical, cognitive, and social dimensions. Our goal is to widely promote the excellence of TAFISA-recognized Hangung tournaments and pursue a global Hangung championship, contributing to healthier, happier, and more peaceful lives for global citizens.

This study examines Tchoukball as a vehicle to promote empathy, learning, and intergenerational connection through festivals, leisure, and recreational activities, as well as structured competitions involving diverse age groups, genders, and participation conditions. By aligning the principles of Tchoukball with collaborative play, we explore how this sport fosters an inclusive environment that connects generations and realities. A mixed-methods approach was applied, using qualitative and quantitative data from different Tchoukball events and activities.

The proposal highlights Tchoukball as an innovative tool for sport for all generations, cultures, genders, and people with and without disabilities, through a game that fosters equality and inclusion. It seeks to promote intergenerational empathy by creating shared play areas where children, youth, adults, older participants, and people with disabilities interact on equal terms. Gender equity is integrated into the structure of the game, while adapted rules enable the participation of players with different physical and cognitive abilities. Beyond formal competition, Tchoukball also flourishes in leisure spaces, offering a barrier-free context for enjoyment.

Findings show that Tchoukball’s non-contact nature and emphasis on teamwork effectively promote inclusion and encourage participants to engage beyond traditional barriers of age, gender, or condition. The sport allows different levels of participation, illustrating how shared goals can enhance social cohesion. Observed interactions revealed significant increases in empathy: younger athletes valued the experiences of older peers and people with disabilities, while older participants expressed renewed vitality and connection with youth.

In conclusion, Tchoukball demonstrates strong potential as an intergenerational and inclusive bridge, enabling meaningful exchanges that transcend age, gender, and condition. By promoting empathy, collaboration, and barrier-free leisure, Tchoukball enriches the social fabric. We recommend implementing initiatives in schools, community centers, and leisure spaces, ensuring that materials and posters visibly represent all categories of participants (youth, older adults, men, women, and people with disabilities).

Reference: Hermann Brandt – Étude critique scientifique des sports d’équipe – Roulet – Geneve

Introduction: “Generations in Motion” is a sport-based social project in Casablanca, Morocco. It aims to reduce the social isolation of seniors while developing leadership skills in young volunteers. The project creates a bridge between generations in orphanages and retirement homes through physical activity.

Methodology: A list of 10 volunteers coaches is trained in Child Protection (PSEA) and adapted physical activity. Sessions include rotating workshops like coordination games and gentle gymnastics, followed by "exchange circles" where participants share experiences. We use the MERL framework to monitor the impact on participants' well-being.

Results: The project serves 120+ beneficiaries. Expected results include improved motor skills for children and increased mobility and reduced loneliness for seniors. It proves that sport is a powerful tool for social cohesion and transferring values between generations.

Conclusion: This initiative offers a replicable Sport for All model. It empowers youth as community leaders and ensures the right to movement for vulnerable populations, aligning with TAFISA’s global goals.

Sport is a universal language—bridging cultures, crossing borders, and connecting people across generations. Yet while its power to unite is profound, the safety of those participating in sport remains uneven across the globe. Abuse, neglect, and exploitation persist in every region, and responses often depend on geographic, cultural, or organizational context. This poster calls for a new era of international collaboration to prevent and respond to abuse in sport, rooted in the belief that safeguarding is not a national issue—it’s a global responsibility.

Drawing on experiences from Olympic and non-Olympic sport systems, youth organizations, and national and regional safeguarding programs, this presentation highlights the need for cross-border cooperation, shared tools, and mutual learning. It examines how international principles—such as athlete-centered approaches, trauma-informed care, and prevention-focused education—can be adapted to local needs without losing integrity or impact.

The poster also explores existing gaps: data silos, uneven training standards, and limited communication between organizations across borders. In response, it offers a vision for collaborative global safeguarding that centers lived experience, respects cultural variation, and builds bridges between systems. Key strategies include creating open-source policy templates, investing in multilingual education tools, supporting whistleblower protection worldwide, and amplifying the voices of survivors globally.

Sport’s potential to foster inclusion and harmony can only be realized when its environments are safe. Abuse undermines trust, participation, and equity. A truly “Sport for All” world demands we work together—not in parallel—to prevent harm, respond with care, and ensure that every athlete, coach, and participant is protected, regardless of where they play.

This poster invites delegates, organizations, and change-makers to engage in a global safeguarding network—one that transcends competitive silos and national boundaries, and that leverages sport’s universal power for good. By building partnerships and sharing responsibility, we can ensure that the right to safe sport becomes a reality for all.

Introduction: Created in 1983 in Canada to encourage physical activity during winter, Challenge Day has been globally coordinated by TAFISA since 1990. Since 1995, Sesc São Paulo has led the campaign in Brazil, Latin America, and later across the Americas, with support from UNESCO. Over three decades, it has evolved into an international movement engaging millions in active lifestyles. In the 2023–2025 cycle, strategic axes of innovation, sustainability, and community participation were incorporated into its management.

For more than two decades, the main strategy was competition between cities, mobilizing millions of people in 24 hours of physical activities. Over time, it became clear that self-challenge—when individuals, institutions, and communities strive to surpass their own goals—is as relevant as competition. This approach strengthens shared responsibility and fosters deeper changes in local contexts.

Objectives: To expand physical activity, raise awareness of its benefits, and consolidate partnerships among public, private, and third sectors. The campaign seeks to go beyond individual decisions, involving communities and institutions in improving collective health. Project sustainability depends on the ability to innovate without losing its essence: presenting sport and physical activity as healthy leisure options.

Triennial Strategies (2023–2025): Actions included: visibility for projects aligned with contemporary concepts, requalification of urban spaces (placemaking), training of agents through regional seminars, strengthening partnerships, and impact assessment. The campaign was repositioned as a permanent movement. To train multiplier agents, Sesc SP coordinated four regional in-person events and one international online seminar, reaching over 1,000 participants. The format shifted from large-scale events to seminars focused on cross-cutting themes and public policies.

Materials and Methods: Mixed evaluation and participatory strategic planning, with an annual cycle of diagnosis, implementation, monitoring, and feedback. Guiding themes: 2023 – Placemaking; 2024 – Healthy Cities; 2025 – GAPPA.

Results: Mobilization of 15 countries, more than3,500 organizations, and approximately 21 million people. Seminars strengthened institutional relationships, expanded the partner network, and the methodology has proven effective with lasting impact.

Conclusion: The initiative has consolidated as a permanent strategy for promoting collective health, fostering reflections on public policies, with innovation, community engagement, and international integration.

Background: Obesity is associated with impaired autonomic nervous system function and reduced heart rate variability (HRV). Although body composition and physical activity are known to influence cardiovascular regulation, data on obese young women are limited.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the associations between body composition, physical activity level, and HRV parameters in obese young women.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 92 obese young women aged 18–25 years with a mean age of 21.3 ± 1.9 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 32.8 ± 3.4 kg/m². Body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Mean body fat percentage was 41.6 ± 4.8%, visceral fat level was 12.4 ± 3.1, and skeletal muscle mass was 24.8 ± 3.6 kg. Physical activity level was evaluated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and participants were classified as low (n=38, 41.3%), moderate (n=34, 37.0%), or high (n=20, 21.7%) physical activity. HRV parameters, including SDNN, RMSSD, LF, and HF, were measured at rest.

Results: Participants with low physical activity had significantly lower RMSSD values compared with those with moderate-to-high physical activity (24.6 ± 8.1 ms vs. 31.9 ± 10.4 ms, p=0.002). Body fat percentage was negatively correlated with HF (r = -0.34, p=0.001) and RMSSD (r = -0.29, p=0.006). Visceral fat level was also inversely associated with SDNN (r = -0.31, p=0.004). In contrast, skeletal muscle mass was positively correlated with HF (r = 0.27, p=0.011) and RMSSD (r = 0.25, p=0.018). In multivariable regression analysis, higher body fat percentage independently predicted lower RMSSD (β = -0.28, p=0.009) after adjustment for age and physical activity.

Conclusion: Higher adiposity and lower physical activity were associated with poorer autonomic function in obese young women. Promoting physical activity and improving body composition may help enhance cardiovascular and metabolic health in this population.

Keywords: obesity; young women; physical activity; heart rate variability; body composition

The poster is an introduction to the project “Give Sport a Say: give citizens a real say for the future of the EU in and through sports”, co-funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme, within the Citizens engagement call.

Give Sport a Say harnesses the unique power of the grassroots sport environment to promote EU fundamental values, democracy, and human rights. The project is based on the idea that advancing these values is a shared responsibility, and that this is only possible when citizens have a practical understanding of how they apply in everyday life. In this context, sport becomes a powerful and accessible space for learning, participation, and active citizenship.

Through events organised by the partners, Give Sport a Say aims to invite citizens—particularly those who might not otherwise have the opportunity—to take part in discussions and express their views on EU policies. This is achieved by assessing their current knowledge, building their capacity, and empowering them to engage in policy dialogue and contribute to positive change. Partners will integrate these activities into their regular events to inform citizens about the EU decision-making process, facilitate discussions on the future of the EU, and collect their opinions and ideas for policy development.

Introduction: In Morocco, universities are emerging as critical spaces for advancing gender equity through sport. Despite progress in higher education, female students continue to face barriers to equal participation in sports due to cultural perceptions, lack of infrastructure, and limited institutional support. Promoting Sport for All in universities is therefore essential to foster inclusion, equity, and social cohesion.

Aims / Purpose / Project Idea: This project explores how Sport for All initiatives within Moroccan universities can promote gender equity by creating inclusive opportunities for both male and female students. The study aims to identify existing challenges, highlight best practices, and propose scalable strategies to ensure sport becomes a driver of equal opportunity in academic contexts.

Materials and Methods: A mixed-method approach was adopted. Surveys were distributed to 350 students (54% female, 46% male) across three Moroccan universities (Kenitra, Rabat, and Casablanca), assessing perceptions of accessibility, safety, and motivation in sports participation. Semi-structured interviews with university sport coordinators and focus groups with female students provided qualitative insights. Policy documents and university sport programs were also reviewed to analyze institutional frameworks.

Results: Findings revealed significant disparities: while 72% of male students reported regular participation in university sport activities, only 38% of female students did so. Key barriers included lack of female-specific facilities, cultural norms discouraging mixed-gender activities, and limited visibility of female role models in sport. However, successful initiatives were identified, such as women-only fitness classes, mixed-gender debate forums on sport equity, and leadership programs that engaged female students as event organizers.

Discussion: The results suggest that Moroccan universities hold untapped potential to serve as laboratories for gender-inclusive sport. By addressing structural barriers and promoting Sport for All principles, universities can transform sport into a platform for empowerment and social change. The study also highlights the importance of partnerships with national federations, NGOs, and student associations in amplifying impact.

Conclusion: Sport for All initiatives in Moroccan universities represent a key pathway toward gender equity, inclusion, and societal harmony. Scaling up these practices requires institutional commitment, policy innovation, and cross-sector collaboration.

References

• UNESCO (2015). Gender Equality in Sport.
• TAFISA (2022). Sport and Social Inclusion.

Introduction: Sporting activities provide a wide array of benefits, including improved physical health, stress reduction, enhanced teamwork, and elevated self-esteem. Beyond individual well-being, sports contribute to employment creation and national unity. Central to maximizing these benefits is facilities management, which ensures that sports venues are functional, safe, sustainable, and efficient. As such, it plays a dual role—either enabling or hindering community engagement. Well-managed sports facilities also support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on equality and inclusion.

Aim: This study explores the role of facilities management in advancing the “Sport for All” concept by building local capacity, amplifying lived experiences, and supporting grassroots leadership within a community sports infrastructure.

Materials and Methods: The research was conducted at the Molepolole Sports Complex in Botswana. A qualitative approach was used to assess the current management of the facility, its alignment with community needs, and the level of stakeholder involvement. Data were gathered through observations, document review, and informal consultations with users and local leaders.

Results: Botswana’s commitment to SDGs, particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), emphasizes the inclusive potential of sport. The Molepolole community structure, including traditional systems like the Kgotla and village development committees, presents opportunities to foster collaboration. However, findings show that current operations are fragmented, with multiple entities working in isolation and often targeting similar groups. This lack of coordination limits the facility’s potential to serve as a hub for inclusive sporting activities.

Discussion: To address these challenges, the Ministry of Youth and Sport can play am important role by empowering local leaders through training programs focused on facility use, maintenance, and shared access. Post-occupancy evaluations can further capture user experiences related to accessibility, cleanliness, safety, and programming needs, providing data to guide improvements.

Conclusion: By promoting collaboration among local structures and understanding community contexts, sports facilities like the Molepolole Sports Complex can be transformed into inclusive, sustainable spaces. This approach strengthens the "Sport for All" initiative, enhances community cohesion, and contributes to holistic development.

Community engagement and decentralization of sport programme are key pillars for the implementation of the national policy on sport. It is largely understood that the government is not the implementor, but the facilitator of policy implementation via available funding. Sport policy implementation is transacted by national network of sport stakeholders, making community organizations integral to this very important issue. The paper seeks to examine the current systems guiding sport policy implementation, with a view to making recommendations for adopting a decentralized approach that aligns to the national policy, bridges the gaps, and disconnects that exist within the national framework for sport development in Trinidad and Tobago.

The resulting framework will result in a more streamlined sport delivery system, increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of resource distribution and utilization, reducing duplication and empowering community sport organizations to play a greater role sport service delivery and sport expansion nationally.

In executing this research project, the researcher will undertake an evaluation of the Ministry with responsibility for sport, and its executory agency the SporTT Company of Trinidad and Tobago, to gain an understanding of ongoing programmes, projects and sporting initiatives aimed at meeting policy objectives. This information will be reviewed within the context of the socio-economic and socio-demographic realities of communities and sporting frameworks in Trinidad and Tobago. Lastly, international best practice and scholarly works will be utilized to inform recommendations for aligning the national framework with community organizations and groups to increase coverage and expand sport for all initiatives nationwide.

Physical activity is fundamental to health, inclusion, and community well-being. However, engagement in physical activity is not determined by physical capacity alone, but also by how individuals experience and regulate stress. Despite this, many professionals in sport and exercise sciences receive limited training on how stress shapes movement, motivation, and participation.

Research shows that stress-related physiological and behavioral responses such as hyperarousal, hypoarousal, dissociation, and defensive movement patterns influence performance, learning, safety, and engagement in sport contexts (Center for Trauma and Embodiment, 2025; Perry, 2021; Marchant & Greig, 2017). At the same time, national data indicate a growing mental health burden in Slovenia, including increased rates of depression, psychosomatic symptoms, and suicide above the EU average. These trends suggest that future sport professionals will increasingly work with individuals whose movement and participation are shaped by stress-related patterns, requiring new competencies in observation and response.

The project aimed to shift coaching from a performance-driven model toward a human-centered approach by equipping sport professionals with stress-responsive and nervous-system-informed competencies. A pilot intervention was conducted with 16 participants (10 female, 6 male; aged 20–74, M ≈ 41), including students and practitioners. The program consisted of three workshops (2h + 2h + online), combining theoretical input on stress physiology, experiential movement-based exercises (breathing, grounding, cognitive attention shifts), and applied coaching scenarios.

Preliminary findings indicate a consistent positive shift across domains. Participants improved in recognizing stress-related movement patterns, decision-making in coaching scenarios, and confidence in adapting training. Self-reported competence increased particularly in observing bodily signals, adjusting training load, and creating psychologically safe environments. Qualitative feedback emphasized high practical relevance and the value of experiential learning.

The results suggest that stress-responsive coaching competencies can be effectively developed through short, practice-oriented interventions. The experiential format appears central, supporting the integration of theory into applied decision-making. While limited by small sample size and short duration, the findings indicate strong relevance across diverse age and experience groups. The project provides a scalable model for integrating stress system literacy into sport education, supporting safer, more inclusive, and sustainable participation in Sport for All contexts.

Introduction: Families of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face elevated caregiving burdens, increased rates of stress, anxiety, and depression, alongside significant barriers to regular physical activity. Globally, nearly 1.8 billion adults fail to meet WHO-recommended activity levels (WHO, 2024). In Ukraine, ASD prevalence in children rose nearly tenfold between 2008 and 2020 (ResearchGate, 2024), yet most existing services focus on the autistic individual, leaving caregiver wellbeing and whole-family physical activity critically underserved.

Aims / Purpose / Project Idea: The project aims to improve the quality of life of families of people with ASD through sport and physical activity by: equipping families with practical tools to integrate activity into daily life; strengthening coaches' capacity to apply family-centred methodologies; increasing cross-sector collaboration; and building sustainable community networks.

Materials and Methods: A community-based participatory action model was adopted. Four interconnected activities were implemented: (1) a cross-sector working group (12–15 coaches, parents, ASD specialists, and NGO representatives) co-developing all materials; (2) two methodological guides — one for families (with visual sequencing cards and low-stimulus activity alternatives) and one for coaches; (3) a one-day Sports and Information Festival serving 60–80 participants across parallel micro-stations; and (4) online community channels for sustained peer support. A mixed-method MERL framework was applied, including pre/post surveys, semi-structured interviews, and participation tracking.

Results: Expected outputs include two co-created methodological guides (200 printed copies plus open digital access), a trained cohort of 6–8 coaches, an active online community of 30–50 members, and a validated evaluation report with scaling recommendations.

Discussion: The project introduces a family-centred, co-creation approach tailored to the Ukrainian context, incorporating sensory micro-adaptations, gender-sensitive design, and no-cost access to remove socioeconomic barriers. Sustainability is ensured through open-access materials, volunteer-moderated networks, and integration into partner organisations' existing programmes.

Conclusion: This initiative offers a simple, scalable, and evidence-based Sport for All model that shifts focus from the individual with ASD to the resilience and wellbeing of the whole family.

References: WHO (2024); ResearchGate (2024); PMC10623632 (2023); PubMed 35238171 (2022); UN SDGs (2015); IOC Olympism 365 (2023).

In line with the TAFISA Congress 2026 sub-theme “Empower Communities: building local capacity, amplifying lived experiences, and supporting grassroots leadership,” EASE’s project of Social Charter (ESCSE) demonstrates how event organisers can transform major sport events into genuine drivers of empowerment and inclusion. Developed under the Erasmus+ Sport programme, the ESCSE establishes a shared European framework for socially responsible event organisation. It translates principles such as good governance, fair employment, inclusivity, and sustainability into 13 commitments for organisers, workers, and local communities. By placing social responsibility at the heart of event management, the Charter gives sport back its role as a community tool for empowerment and connection. At the local level, the 13 commitments ensure that communities are directly involved in sport events. It strengthens grassroots leadership by promoting inclusive governance, transparent decision-making, and the recognition of volunteers’ and workers’ contributions. The ESCSE supports local capacity-building through training, upskilling opportunities, and local procurement policies that sustain economic and social impact long after the event ends. The Charter should therefore be applicable at all levels, in all countries, and to all sports.

The poster will visually showcase how the Charter empowers communities through an engaging and accessible design:

• A central infographic illustrating the Charter’s three pillars (Governance, Workforce, Sustainability) and 13 commitments
• A map of partner countries showing transnational cooperation and implementation examples across Europe
• A timeline of the three steps to build the Charter: study on the current state of responsibility for sport events in Europe, social charter test (draft) and final version of the Charter
• Photographs from events that have adopted the Charter’s principles (the Charter was disseminated in +15 EU countries to sport event organisers)
• Short testimonies or quotes from partners and beneficiaries, amplifying the lived experiences
• A “Key Impact” section with concise data on how the ESCSE strengthens skills development, and inclusive local participation.

By combining visuals and concise explanations, this poster will clearly illustrate how the ESCSE brings the Empower Communities theme to life, turning sport events into catalysts for social responsibility, inclusion, and collective empowerment.

Hello Padel is a community sports initiative focused on increasing women’s participation in padel in Ljubljana. While the sport is growing quickly, local tournaments still show a clear imbalance, with significantly fewer female players. This project aims to address that gap by offering an accessible and supportive introduction to the sport.

The event is designed as a four-hour session at the Trnovo padel courts, combining coaching, guided practice, and social play. Participants are introduced to the basic rules and techniques through sessions led by professional coaches, with separate groups for beginners and intermediate players. This is followed by structured gameplay, allowing participants to apply what they have learned, and a final social segment that encourages interaction and connection.

To reduce common barriers to entry, equipment such as racquets and balls is provided. The overall approach focuses not only on skill development, but also on creating a relaxed and welcoming environment where participants feel comfortable trying a new sport.

Feedback is collected through a short survey to evaluate the experience and improve future editions. The project is carried out in collaboration with local sports facilities, coaches, and community networks, helping participants transition into existing padel activities after the event.

In the short term, Hello Padel aims to build confidence and basic playing skills. Over time, it seeks to increase female participation in recreational padel and contribute to a more balanced representation in local tournaments.

While Limerick offers a wide range of opportunities for physical activity and sport participation, families often lack a central, accessible point of contact to identify and navigate these options. Early engagement in sport is widely recognised as critical for lifelong physical activity and positive health outcomes. However, barriers such as cost, commitment, and limited awareness can restrict participation. In response, a “Sport for All” Expo was delivered in Limerick, targeting children aged 4–12 years, providing an inclusive and low-pressure environment to explore multiple sports while facilitating direct engagement with National Governing Bodies (NGBs).

The aim of the Sport for All Expo was to increase awareness and participation in sport among primary school-aged children through a come and try event with taster sessions. A secondary aim was to enable parents and guardians to engage directly with NGBs to better understand participation pathways and local opportunities through information stands and booklets. A core objective of the expo was to ensure the overall event was accessible and inclusive for all.

Nine NGBs collaborated to deliver structured, age-appropriate taster sessions. Registration for the event collected information on expected genders, age range, ability and participation levels. A total of 53 individuals attended, including children aged 4–12 years and adults aged 25–74 years. The cohort included 18 girls, 25 boys, 10 women, and 4 men. Five children with disabilities registered, with one attending.

The event achieved great engagement across a broad age range and participants were predominantly male (58.1%), with females representing 41.9% of the cohort. The presence of multiple NGBs provided a diverse range of activities including niche sports like field archery and cricket, supporting sustained participation.

Preliminary findings indicate that a come and try event can reduce barriers and encourage initial sport engagement. Direct interaction with NGBs supported parental awareness and informed decision-making. However, lower attendance among children with disabilities suggests a need for improved accessibility and targeted engagement strategies.

The expo demonstrates the effectiveness of community-based, multi-sport initiatives in promoting early engagement. Future events should strengthen inclusive practices and outreach to ensure access for all abilities of participants.

Sport is increasingly recognised as a vehicle for social change and a contributor to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This recognition has given rise to the sport for development (S4D) sector, with its own institutionalisation and mechanisms globally. In India, however, the sector remains nascent, competing for a small pool of donors and struggling for legitimacy alongside established fields such as education and healthcare. Within this context, it is important to ask whether the often-critiqued hierarchical nature of S4D funding relationships restricts genuine inclusion and impact.

This study adopted a qualitative approach to centre practitioner voices from India and examine whether they feel included or excluded in donor decision-making, and what conditions enable more collaborative donor-practitioner partnerships. Data was collected through surveys and interviews with leading S4D organisations in India.

Findings show that donors, particularly CSR donors, often view sport as a low priority and import models from other sectors, overlooking its distinctive and long-term pathways to impact. Compliance pressures, from foreign funding regulations and CSR mandates, further create transactional, reporting-heavy relationships. Within this small donor pool, practitioners are also cautious about challenging directives, reinforcing power imbalances. Yet collaboration was possible when donors showed clarity of purpose, when individuals within donor organisations championed S4D, and when NGOs had strong reputations that earned trust. Notably, contrasting critiques of Global North dominance, Indian practitioners often preferred foreign donors for their comparatively mature understanding of S4D.

The study provides novel practitioner-led insights from India and calls for actionable steps by both donors and practitioners to strengthen trust, clarity, and dialogue to move towards inclusive partnerships.

References include peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on sport for development, corporate social responsibility in India and top-down and bottom-up approaches in development.

Introduction: Across Canada, opportunities to try new sports and physical activities often exist at the local level but lack national coordination. Increasing physical activity and reducing barriers to participation remain key challenges, as many Canadians do not meet the recommended movement guidelines. Social media campaigns present an opportunity to inspire participation, build awareness, and connect individuals to accessible sport experiences.

Project Idea: Ready, Set, Try! is a national, month-long initiative designed to encourage Canadians of all ages and backgrounds to try new sports or activities. The project aims to promote physical literacy, reduce barriers to participation, and create a coordinated, inclusive movement that connects individuals with local sport opportunities through a shared national campaign.

Methods: This initiative was delivered through a multi-platform social media campaign supported by a digital marketing toolkit and an interactive bingo card. Daily content was shared across Instagram and Facebook, mainly through videos/reels. Partnerships with sport organizations and community groups helped amplify reach and provide accessible opportunities. Monitoring social media analytics (engagement, reach, shares) and collection of user-generated content such as photos and videos.

Results: The campaign achieved strong online engagement, with high levels of interaction across platforms, including likes, comments, shares, and video views. Strong partnerships were created and strengthened through sport organizations. Submission of photos and videos have continued beyond the campaign timeline.

Discussion: Findings demonstrate that social media can effectively promote physical activity and foster community engagement at a national scale. Lower than expected real time content submission suggests the need for enhanced incentives and simplified participation processes. Continued engagement post-campaign highlights sustained interest and delayed participation.

Conclusion: Ready, Set, Try! successfully generated strong social media interaction and increased awareness of sport participation opportunities. Although immediate user-generated content was limited, ongoing submissions and continued engagement indicate lasting impact and interest in the initiative.

Introduction: In communities affected by conflict, social bonds are often weakened or broken, reducing the community’s ability to face ongoing challenges. As a result, children and women are among the most affected — both by direct violence and by the absence of protection networks that their communities could, and should, provide. In this context, combining sport with the formation of active and participatory citizenship that prepares youth for action is essential to respond to local challenges and promote recovery.

Aims and Purpose: Drawing on the experience of Gingando pela Paz, this presentation will explore Social Capoeira as an innovative approach to training young social agents in child protection and human rights, based on work developed in Brazil, Haiti, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It will show how the organization empowers youth — girls and boys — to become multipliers of social transformation within their communities, opening a space for reflection on the role of sport in promoting peace and development through youth engagement.

Methodology: The analysis builds on the methodology created by Gingando in Haiti, which integrates Capoeira into child protection programs for children affected by armed violence. The session will present indicators, success stories, and tools for monitoring and evaluation, emphasizing the importance of youth leadership training and continuous mentoring.

Results and Discussion: The session aims to foster dialogue and reflection on the transformative power of sport in rebuilding communities affected by conflict. By sharing concrete experiences and lessons learned, participants are expected to strengthen their understanding of sport as a tool for social reconstruction and be inspired to create or enhance collaborative initiatives in their own contexts.

Conclusion: The experience of Gingando pela Paz shows that sport, combined with civic education and long-term commitment, can transform realities marked by violence. Training youth as agents of change reaffirms the potential of “Sport for All” as a tool for social and human reconstruction, especially in post-conflict settings.

References: UN Security Council Report on Children and Armed Conflict (2025); Social Capoeira: Sport and Citizenship for Development and Peace (Gingando pela Paz, 2025); Convention on the Rights of the Child (United Nations, 1989).

Introduction: Narrative approaches have been enjoying increasing popularity and application across the philosophical and psychological sciences. They describe the idea that all experiences and mental processes contribute to an overarching internal storytelling throughout one's lifetime (McLean et al., 2007). This continuous expansion of an implicit autobiographical narrative enables a person to experience themselves as unified. Movement provides one potential gateway to construct and influence such narratives, as it affects our perception of, and interaction with, the world (Buhrmann & Di Paolo, 2017). Narrative theories thus frame movement as a nonverbal narration which addresses narrative processes and changes our constructed sense of self.

Aim, Material and Method: This poster applies the lens of said narrative theories onto the realm of dance and movement to explore theoretical insights and practical implications. Conceptually, it primarily draws from Kronsted (2020). Thereby, it investigates potential new perspectives on dance movement therapy (DMT), and the role of dance for community empowerment.

Results and Discussion: The theoretical investigation reveals that dance unleashes its effects both on an individual, as well as collective level. The latter becomes evident in the multiplicity of cultures in which dance has played a central role for collective rituals and empowerment.

Conclusion: Dance targets the feedback loop between narratives, perception and action, which ultimately characterizes our living experience. Therefore, it bears significant potential for treatment of psychopathologies, and support of emotional processes, collective connection and preservation of communities.

References:

Buhrmann, T., & Di Paolo, E. (2017). The sense of agency – a phenomenological consequence of enacting sensorimotor schemes. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences, 16(2), 207–236. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11097-015-9446-7

Kronsted, C. (2020). The self and dance movement therapy – a narrative approach. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences, 19(1), 47–58. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11097-018-9602-y

McLean, K. C., Pasupathi, M., & Pals, J. L. (2007). Selves Creating Stories Creating Selves: A Process Model of Self-Development. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 11(3), 262–278. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868307301034

Wilson, M. (2002). Six views of embodied cognition. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 9(4), 625–636. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03196322

Background: Sports clubs offer significant potential for health promotion (HP). Yet there is a lack of comprehensive health promotion initiatives in this setting. Sports club managers can play an important role in shaping sports club environments that support health, but frequently lack theoretical and practical guidance to do so. Using the Health-Promoting Sports Club (HPSC) model, the present study aimed to develop a guide to support sports club managers in integrating HP within their sports club.

Methods: A qualitative, iterative study using a consensus-based approach was conducted through five two-hour meetings with 22 international experts in HP and sport. The process combined structured discussions and iterative rounds to build consensus. Notes, minutes, and collaborative outputs were thematically analyzed to identify and refine key themes and recommendations.

Results: The study highlighted the crucial role of sports club managers in advancing HP within clubs. A revised understanding of the HPSC concept and the manager’s role was developed, grounded in key principles aligned with the Ottawa Charter. The findings also demonstrated how the HPSC approach can be effectively applied from a managerial perspective, with the adapted logic model offering clear and practical guidance for the structured implementation of multi-level HP strategies in diverse sports club settings.

Conclusion: Sports club managers have the potential to transform sports organizations into health-promoting “hubs”. To do so, it is essential to provide them with skills, tools, and a solid theoretical framework to integrate health promotion into the clubs' mission, culture, and daily practice. These strategies aim to support sports club managers in tailoring actions, collaborating with individual sports participants, coaches, board members, and external actors. Future research should explore how these strategies, which are designed to reflect the complexity of sports club settings, can be effectively implemented across diverse types of sports clubs.

Physical literacy is a key concept for fostering lifelong engagement in physical activity. It refers to the ability and desire to be active throughout life, and combines several essential dimensions:

• Motivation – the willingness and enjoyment to take part in physical activity
• Confidence – feeling capable and comfortable in different movement situations
• Physical competence – the development of fundamental movement skills
• Knowledge and understanding – awareness of the benefits and value of being active

Together, these elements enable individuals to adopt and maintain an active lifestyle across all stages of life.

In France, however, awareness and understanding of physical literacy remain limited among many sport and education professionals, highlighting the need for further dissemination and education on the topic.

3 aims of the project:

• Introduce physical literacy to a diverse audience

Present the concept in a clear and accessible way to participants from different backgrounds, including students, coaches, and professionals.

• Foster dialogue between sectors (sport, education, ...)

Create opportunities for exchange and discussion between stakeholders in order to share perspectives, experiences, and practices.

• Encourage local dissemination and practical applications

Promote the integration of physical literacy into local initiatives, and inspire participants to apply the concept within their own professional contexts.

Two sessions are planned: the first will feature presentations by professionals in the field to convey the key information on the subject. The second will take the form of a workshop to encourage participants to reflect on their own sectors and how they might apply these concepts.