Inclusive Water Polo Training Kicks Off in Bulgaria and Croatia

Team sports bring people together, and the development of inclusive water polo aims to achieve that by breaking down stereotypes about people with intellectual disabilities in a truly fun way. Inclusive water polo teams are made up of people of similar age and ability, making practices more enjoyable and games more challenging and exciting for all. Sharing a common interest in sports helps to sweep away preconceptions and false ideas, achieving inclusion through practical and engaging activities.

As part of the #InclusiveWaterPolo initiative, training sessions have recently begun in Bulgaria and Croatia. This initiative introduces adapted physical activities to the local communities, providing new opportunities for inclusion through sports.

Training Goals and Activities

The #InclusiveWaterPolo training sessions focus on two main objectives:

1. Enhancing Inclusion Opportunities: Providing persons with intellectual disabilities the chance to engage in water polo, thus promoting inclusion through sports.
2. Strengthening Sport Clubs: Enabling water polo clubs in Bulgaria and Croatia to offer new, tested opportunities for people with disadvantaged backgrounds, thereby enhancing their capacity in the field of adapted sports.

These training sessions are part of a broader project that aims to:

• Organize an International Inclusive Water Polo Event: Bringing together participants from Bulgaria and Croatia to promote inclusive water polo.
• Publish a Handbook: The printed edition of “#BeInclusive Water Polo” will empower sport clubs across the EU to develop inclusive water polo programs using the project’s tested methodology.
• Develop an Online Platform: An online edition of the handbook and guideline videos on the rules of inclusive water polo will be made accessible to all.

Partnership and Support

The #BeInclusiveWaterPolo initiative involves three partners from two EU countries: the Bulgarian Sports Development Association, the Association of Bulgarian Swimmers, and the Rijeka Sport Association for Persons with Disabilities. These organizations bring their extensive experience in sports and project management to the initiative, ensuring its success.

The project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, demonstrating a strong commitment to promoting inclusion and equality through sports.

Trainings in Bulgaria:

Trainings in Croatia: