The project is a commitment to breaking down barriers for women and girls across Europe, by making sports more accessible and creating a cultural shift towards gender equity.

Through the project, adidas supports non-profit sport organisations by training local community role models and coaches called 'Breaking Barriers Champions'.

The project also created an online learning platform, the Breaking Barriers academy. This offers interactive activities and learning tools such as insights from professional athletes and coaches to gain knowledge on gender equity and inclusion in sports settings.

Over 5 years, the project will work with 15 non-profit organisations and 100 Breaking Barriers Champions, and aim to impact the lives of over 50,000 women and girls throughout Europe.

As a result, these organisations will be better equipped to strengthen their commitment to gender equity, increase girls’ confidence and make the community more inclusive through sports. This will lead to lasting changes in the sports industry and fulfil the adidas’ ultimate goal of making sports more accessible for women and girls.

Active since 2017, Fifty Fifty brings together doctors, psychologists, coaches, high level athletes and other partner organisations, running three sport programmes to support women in their recovery from different forms of violence.

It also organises events to raise funds and awareness around diversity, gender equality in sport, and violence against women.

The sport programmes offered by Fifty Fifty help women cope with the post-traumatic stress by involving them in sailing, cycling and skiing sessions throughout the year.

And since they take place in beautiful natural environments, these activities bring positivity and social interaction, stimulate body movement and body-mind re-connection, contribute to stress reduction and enhance psychological recovery. As a result, women are empowered to regain their self-confidence and build resilience. 

Kajak Klub Zlatorog (KKZ) is a female-led sports club committed to removing barriers to sports participation among girls and driving change towards a more equal future.

It runs the Paddle PWR – Girl PWR project, an innovative way to increase and retain female kayakers in a fun, safe, girl-friendly community connected by the love of sports and nature.

The project ensures that female athletes have inspiring female coaches and role models, participate in training programmes that meet their physical and social needs, take part in competitions which prioritise personal improvement over winning and are able to develop the confidence and skills necessary in sports and life.

The project’s framework has enabled KKZ to become the Slovenian kayak club with the highest proportion of active female members, increase the number of girls participating in inter-club competitions and reach a 100% athlete retention rate over 12 months.

Even more than this, Paddle PWR – Girl PWR is a catalyst for personal development, driving improvements in confidence, resilience, dedication, and team spirit.

KKZ is proud that its programmes and newly developed girls-only camps help female athletes to thrive and contribute to more gender equality in the Slovenian sport sector.