Published: 30 Apr 2025

#BeInclusive EU Sport Awards Finalists – Sport for Peace

Projects highlighted in this category promote peace and European values through sport and physical activity.

The Sport for Peace finalists are inspiring examples of how to use the power of sport to promote social inclusion and integration of refugees into their host countries. They show how sport helps refugees cope with stress and traumatic experiences and make them feel welcome in a new country.

Meet the Sport for Peace finalists

Fútbol Más España, Spain

Project title: SPRING 2.0-STIR: Sport4Development as a Tool for the Inclusion of Refugees

Fútbol Más España is a non-profit organisation that promotes the well-being and development of children, youth, and communities through the power of sport and play, particularly in vulnerable contexts.

Since it was established in 2020, the organisation has operated in several Spanish regions including Madrid, Seville, the Basque Country, and Navarre. It has contributed to international projects in more than 20 countries, including through EU-funded initiatives.

It makes us immensely proud having been able to transform the realities of children and youth beyond languages and cultural barriers and promote community cohesion in a tangible and joyful ways.
Fútbol Más España

One of its flagship efforts is the SPRING 2.0-STIR project (Sport as a Tool for the Inclusion of Refugees), set up in response to the refugee crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. With large numbers of children and families arriving in Poland, Slovakia, and Romania, the project aimed to support communities and create safe, inclusive, and protective spaces where both refugee and local children could thrive together.

The project was implemented in close collaboration with partner organisations in the 3 countries and followed 4 key steps

conducting a needs assessment in each country
training professionals in Sport for development methodology
delivering inclusive socio-sport activities for local and refugee children to promote life skills, resilience and intercultural dialogue
evaluating and sharing results to support advocacy and long-term impact.

By July 2024, the project had reached 651 children from both Ukraine and local communities in Gliwice (Poland), Bruty and Sturovo (Slovakia) and Bucharest (Romania) and trained over 30 professionals across the three countries.

Ultimately, the project built meaningful connections between refugee and host communities, created safe spaces for play and emotional growth, and helped educators and institutions become more inclusive through sport.

Association UCPA Sport Loisirs, France

Project title: RESTART: refugee inclusion through sport

Formed in 1965, UCPA Sport Loisirs is a non-profit organisation that believes sport and leisure are powerful drivers of personal empowerment, social inclusion, and community cohesion. It works to make these experiences accessible to all—especially people in vulnerable situations—by placing education, togetherness, connection with nature, and active citizenship at the heart of its mission.

RESTART, a free social support programme designed to improve access to sport and leisure for socially isolated people, with a particular focus on refugees and asylum seekers. The programme helps these communities discover and participate in sporting activities that are often out of reach, while providing an opportunity to meet new people and break out of isolation.

At UCPA, we strive to make sport and leisure accessible to all by placing education, togetherness, connection with nature, and citizenship at the heart of our actions.
UCPA

Currently running in 3 regions of France, the programme focuses on 4 areas of intervention

promoting access to sport with UCPA instructors
enhancing refugees’ well-being through health-oriented workshops like swimming and horseback riding
supporting refugees’ professional integration via training programmes (such as lifeguard and swimming instructor certification)
offering sport holidays as moments of respite and connection.

The programme has a visible social impact. It helps refugees rebuild their lives, integrate into society, and regain self-confidence. Beneficiaries report improved well-being, increased self-esteem, and the development of soft skills. The project also plays an important role in challenging stereotypes and fostering stronger, more inclusive communities.

To date, 1,500 refugees have benefited from the project, with 700 sport sessions delivered. Participants joined 9 different activities and had access to 2 pre-qualification training courses.

RESTART started in Marseille and later expanded to Lyon and Paris. It is now aiming to grow both in France and more widely throughout European.

Lietuvos Etnosporto Komitetas (LEK), Lithuania

Project title: Fate of a Sport

Lietuvos Etnosporto Komitetas (LEK) is an organisation dedicated to preserving and promoting traditional sport and games. Through local and international projects, the organisation uses sport to tackle real-world challenges such as social exclusion, discrimination and the lack of opportunities, especially for young people.

The Fate of a Sport project was a youth exchange launched in response to growing divisions and conflict in Europe, intensified by the war in Ukraine and other regional tensions. It aimed to create a safe, inclusive space where young people from diverse cultural, national, and social backgrounds could come together, connect, and build peace.

Sport is much more than physical activity – it is a powerful tool for education, inclusion, and social connection. We believe sport can unite communities, teach respect, and support youth development.
LEK

The project brought together young people from Armenia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Türkiye, and Ukraine -many of whom had experienced war, political unrest, or social exclusion. Over several days, participants joined traditional and modern sports, collaborative workshops, and peacebuilding activities using non-formal education methods such as role-play, storytelling, and team challenges.

At a time when youth mental health and social division are growing concerns, this project created space for healing, learning, and connection. Participants broke down stereotypes, shared personal experiences, and discovered the power of empathy and inclusion. As one Ukrainian participant shared, “For the first time in a long while, I felt like a normal person again.”

Through sport, participants developed cooperation skills, mutual respect, non-violent communication. They left with strengthened emotional resilience and a renewed sense of belonging - not just to a group, but to a vision of a peaceful and united Europe.

Fate of a Sport demonstrated that sport and youth work can be powerful tools for social change, offering young people new ways to explore leadership, mental well-being, and intercultural dialogue.

Presenting the award

Matvii Bidnyi, the Ukrainian Minister for Youth and Sport, will be present during the ceremony and will hand out the trophy to the winner of the Sport for Peace award.

Learn about #BeInclusive EU Sport Awards finalists