SportWay: A Vision for Inclusive Sports Across Europe

Volunteering at the Core

At Center Janeza Levca Ljubljana, the largest school for students with special needs in Slovenia, sports have always played a crucial role in fostering physical, motor, and social development. Recognizing the transformative power of sports, we sought to extend the positive impact of our domestic events onto the European stage, giving birth to the SportWay Project—an international collaboration co-funded by the European Union.

Why SportWay?

The inspiration behind SportWay stemmed from the long-standing success of the Be a Sportsman – Play with Me event, which has been part of the International Play with Me Festival for 17 years. This event celebrates cooperation, fair play, respect, and fellowship, bringing together children, young people, and adults, including those with special needs, in an inclusive environment where everyone can participate equally.

Our experience showed us that sports provide a unique platform for spontaneous social inclusion. The inclusive sports model we developed in Ljubljana proved to be a powerful tool for promoting acceptance, overcoming societal barriers, and enriching the lives of participants. Yet, we knew we could do more—this local success deserved a broader stage.

Expanding the Vision Across Europe

The SportWay project aims to share our inclusive sports practices and experiences with partners from Italy and Austria, including organizations like ACTIVE Austria and Cavanis ex Allievi. Together, we seek to create a framework for inclusive sports events across Europe, enabling everyone—regardless of ability level—to participate, collaborate, and grow through sports.

A key innovation of the project is ensuring that people with special needs are not only participants but also take on active roles as event organizers and volunteers. This approach challenges traditional event structures and empowers individuals to showcase their abilities, promoting diversity and respect.

Volunteering at the Core

Volunteering is a fundamental aspect of SportWay. In recent years, we have observed a decline in volunteer participation. With this project, we aim to strengthen and stabilize volunteering efforts, providing support and training to both seasoned and first-time volunteers, including individuals with special needs. Volunteers play a vital role in leading workshops, motivating participants, and embodying the spirit of inclusivity and fair play.

Tackling European Challenges

SportWay aligns with key priorities of the European Union, such as promoting social inclusion, equal opportunities, and active citizenship through sports. By leveraging the outcomes of our project—guidelines for organizing inclusive events, tools for engaging volunteers from underprivileged groups, and fair play evaluation checklists—we aim to inspire and support similar initiatives across Europe.

Looking Ahead

As the project unfolds, we envision SportWay as a catalyst for a more inclusive sports culture in Europe, where people of all backgrounds and abilities come together to celebrate the joy of sports. By fostering knowledge exchange, sharing best practices, and developing innovative approaches, SportWay will contribute to a more inclusive, healthier, and united European society.

Stay tuned for updates and events as we continue on this exciting journey toward inclusivity, empowerment, and fair play through the SportWay project.