#BeInclusiveWaterPolo

On January 30, 2024, in the building of the European Commission in Brussels, the annual edition of the Sport Info Day was held, during which detailed information about the opportunities offered by the sports sector of the Erasmus+ programme to promote sports and physical activity at local, regional and national level was provided. The event brought together over 700 sports experts and was opened by Iliana Ivanova – European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth: “I am convinced that our community can have a greater impact than ever at this critical time for Europe – and for the European sport. Harnessing the power of sport to continue the positive transformation of our societies, in 2024 we renew the EU Work Plan for Sport and support positive change with €51 million and over 300 projects across Europe”.

The Sport Infoday was organized by the European Commission and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) and aimed to inform participants about the political context, future program and funding opportunities in 2024. The budget for sport, planned by the European Union, is over €51 million and is expected to support more than 310 initiatives across Europe this year, in order to raise physical activity levels and increase the capacity of sports organisations. Participants also had the opportunity to make new contacts and make connection with potential partners.

The event was held in Brussels and was attended by Joanna Dochevska, chairperson of Bulgarian sports development association and coordinator of #BeInclusiveWaterPolo – an initiative that aims to develop new sports activities in the field of inclusive sports for people with intellectual disabilities in Bulgaria and Croatia. In order to follow the new trends in adapted sports and introduce new forms of adapted physical activity to the local community, the #BeInclusiveWaterPolo project will also contribute significantly to increasing opportunities for inclusion through sport for people with intellectual disabilities and empowering water polo clubs in Bulgaria and Croatia, which will be able to offer a new, practically tested option for people with special needs and thus strengthen their capacity in the field of adapted sports.