Sport without barriers

Background For the first time in all partner municipalities (Giżycko in Poland, Alytus in Lithuania and Kuldiga in Latvia) barriers preventing people with various disabilities from participating in sport were examined and proposals for solutions to increase the participation of people with disabilities in sport were developed.On the basis of a diagnosis carried out with the participation of people with disabilities and their parents, 3 "Accessibility Reports" were created, together with recommendations. Objectives The main objective of the project was to prevent social exclusion by creating conditions for increasing participation of people with different disabilities in sport and physical culture in Giżycko County, Alytus city and Kuldiga municipality. Architectural accessibility to sports facilities, information accessibility, teachers/trainers qualifications and willingness of local environment to fully participate in trainings, sports initiatives of disabled people were diagnosed. Implementation All project beneficiaries were involved in the joint implementation of the project. Between the meetings in the partner countries, methods of sport integration, barriers for disabled people to participate in physical culture, architectural accessibility of sport facilities, knowledge of disability issues among coaches, the role of sport from a parent's point of view were analysed. Accessibility reports were prepared. Evaluation of project activities was conducted on an ongoing basis. Achievements As part of the project, 3 Accessible Sport and Physical Culture for People with Various Disabilities Reports were produced in Giżycko County (PL), Alytus Municipality (LT) and Kuldiga Municipality (LV), containing a diagnosis and resulting solution proposals. As they have been developed with the participation of affected people, the project has created opportunities for real change in improving access to sport and physical culture activities for people at risk of exclusion.