Leading Europe towards sport
Sport and Citizenship actively supports the promotion of sports policies at the European level. The Think tank’s priorities align with those set out in the new European Union Work Plan for Sport, adopted in May 2024 for the next three years, and are consistent with many of the objectives outlined by European Commissioner Glenn Micaleff in his roadmap presented to the European Parliament in November 2024.
Since 2007, Sport and Citizenship has led or partnered in more than twenty projects supported by Erasmus+, a program funded by the European Commission. For example, through projects such as Planet Ball (football for development) and OSES (ocean protection), Sport and Citizenship contributes to raising young people’s awareness of environmental issues through sport.
With PACTE+, the think tank works to combat the harmful effects of sedentary lifestyles in Europe, encouraging cities to adopt a proactive approach to promoting physical activity in order to improve both individual and collective well-being.
Two new partner projects, ExerSafe and SAFE, were selected under the Erasmus+ Sport 2024 call. Their implementation began in 2025, further extending Sport and Citizenship’s commitment to sport as a driver of equality.
- Planet Ball
- Pacte+
- OSES
- Player
- FIRE+
Planet Ball is a European project (launched in 2024) that uses football as a tool for education on environmental challenges and for strengthening environmental protection. It brings together eight partners from seven European countries (football federations, clubs, NGOs). The project trains young people to become ambassadors of environmentally responsible behaviour, raises awareness of the ecological impact of sport, develops tools for football clubs/federations, and organizes events to promote eco-friendly practices among young players.
PACTE+ – Promoting Active Cities Throughout Europe – is a project funded by the European Union and led by Sport and Citizenship. Its objective is to transform European cities into “active cities.” The project addresses sedentary lifestyles, a major challenge given that many Europeans are inactive and a large share of the population lives in cities. It promotes public policies, local initiatives, and citizen engagement to make cities more conducive to physical activity — through sport, active transport, and urban planning.
OSES – Ocean Sustainability through Education and Sport. The project aims to develop tools for sports federations and local sports stakeholders to educate young people about environmental responsibility, particularly in relation to the ocean, from an early age. Sport (especially water sports) serves as a platform to improve ocean literacy, engage young people in eco-responsible actions, protect marine ecosystems, and raise environmental awareness.
Preserving the oceans through education and sport through the OSES project – Sport et citoyenneté
PLAYER – Promoting Learning and Active Youth Engagement for Ukrainian Refugees
Funded by Erasmus+ Youth, the PLAYER project promotes the inclusion of Ukrainians in migration situations in Poland and Latvia. It adapts the Migration Fresk, an educational tool created by Kabubu, to local contexts so that it can be facilitated by trained educators and used to raise awareness among young audiences about migration issues.
1. Raising awareness through the Migration Fresk
Inspired by the Climate Fresk, the Migration Fresk, created by Kabubu, will be adapted to the journeys of people displaced from Ukraine to Poland and Latvia. Based on real testimonies, it will be facilitated by trained educators and volunteers to raise awareness among young people and the general public.
2. Developing new tools for inclusive sport
A toolbox bringing together educational resources and cooperative sports games on sport, migration, and European citizenship will be created and then distributed to clubs, educators, and social actors to strengthen their capacity to welcome and support displaced people.
3. Sharing and disseminating knowledge
The “Fire and Refugees” MOOC will be translated into Polish and Latvian, and sports festivals will be organized in Poland and Latvia in the summer–autumn of 2026.
- Kabubu (France): an association promoting the social and professional inclusion of exiled people through sport, and creator of the Migration Fresk.
- Fundacja dla Wolności (Poland): the Foundation for Freedom, a long-standing actor in the integration of refugees in Poland through access to sport and education.
- Rīgas futbola federācija (Latvia): the Riga Regional Football Federation, engaged with amateur clubs, which are the first spaces for sports practice and encounters for displaced people.
Calendar of activities
May – October 2025: development of the tools (adapted Fresks, user manual, educational toolbox).
2026:
- rollout of the Migration Fresk workshops,
- sports festivals in Latvia and Poland,
- launch of the MOOC in Polish and Latvian.
FIRE+ – Football Including Refugees in Europe is a project funded by Erasmus+ that aims to promote the social inclusion of refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers through grassroots football. It builds on the previous project (FIRE), strengthening existing tools such as the MOOC designed for volunteers, and adding new modules specifically focused on women, girls, and unaccompanied minors. The objective is to support local football organizations in overcoming barriers, organizing inclusive activities, and fostering participation and socialization through sport.
