More than Sport - My Best Sports Day

This project addresses the issue of how to increase the level of physical activities of children with special needs in primary schools, the project achieves this by promoting sport and inspires children with traditional European sports & games. The proportion of pupils with special needs in special elementary schools in relation to a whole generation of school pupils in European countries varies between 2,7–11,9 % (www.Eurydice.si, 2012). Children with special needs often could not engage in many sports due to physical limitations. Professional experts in project partners countries (Slovenia, Portugal, Italy, Sweden and Turkey) identified and collect existing best practices and concepts in the field of innovative approaches to motivate children with special needs in sport and raise their inclusion in sport activities. We published 5 best good practices from all partner countries and a guide with detailed descriptions of chosen European games. The project ensures the promotion and exchange of European traditional national sports & games between the project partners and enable them to be able to engage children with special needs. In the project we used existing facilities in local environments for implementation of traditional sports & games (playgrounds, sports halls, etc.). The project events “My Best Sports Day” where intensively promoted, organised in each partners country, on the project website, leaflets, and social media. Children with special needs of primary schools participated in the events which will become tradition. Children with special needs, as well as all other citizens, that attended and try out the national sports & games from their own and other EU countries became their ambassadors. Moreover, we promoted the traditional national sports & games, take care to preserve them, and spread them to other EU countries. That is how we increased interest in sports activities of children with special needs in Europe.