RUN 4 EU

RUN 4 EU is a project for the mobility of athletes, volunteers, coaches, managers and staff of no-profit organisations. It is a flagship initiative consisting in a combination of meetings/workshops and a run that provides a pan-European event promoting sports and physical activity in small towns located in the peripheral areas of Europe. There were 6 partners: the cities of Mioveni (R), Bacsalmas (H), Ivancna Gorica (Slo) and Gazzo (I)and 2 associations: Amici del Brenta from Piazzola sul Brenta (I) and Alda (Association of local democracy) from France. The paneuropean Run unfolded in 4 stage (24-31 August), one of each Partner and was preceded by a preparatory phase in each Country with the aim of promoting the objectives of the project and training athletes in pan-European running. This phase has involved the largest number of people.The run started on 25th August in Mioveni, Romania, and ended on 31th August in Gazzo (Italy) after having crossed Bacvsalmas (Hungary) and Ivancna Gorica (Slovenia). RUN 4 EU unfolded according to the principles stated in the EU guidelines on health enhancing Physical activity (HEPA). It was managed by grassroot sport clubs and local authorities of four countries: Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania. Target Groups of the project was represented by: coaches, managers, amateur athletes of sport clubs, about, city authorities, sport authorities, citizens of all ages and genders according to the principles of sport for all, Networks of sport clubs and of local governments.The collaborative partnership is a tool to give a European dimension to the project and help cities to address similar problems from an holistic point of view. In fact, RUN 4 EU stimulated the inter-cultural dialogue between coaches , amateur athletes, sport authorities and cities, promoted active citizenship on the benefits of sport, mutual understanding, and the exchange of athletes and of best practices at local level.RUN 4 EU combined the efforts of the partners toward a beneficial impact on the increase of sport activities and the volunteering in grassroot sport clubs. Volunteers engaged in the project across all phases of dissemination, promotion and organisation of events.The project was divided into 5 main activities:1)Project managment and coordination by the project leader – Gazzo (Jan-Dec);2)Communication and dissemination (Jan-Dec);3)Preparatory activities (Mar-Jul);4)Transnational Sport Events (Jul-Aug);5)Events to promote the project (Oct-Dec);The project has included 5 transnational meetings: Kick off meeting (Gazzo 18-20 Feb) with the representatives of the Partners to create a working environment conducive to the correct implementation of the project, and the 4 stages of Run (Mioveni, Bacsalmas, Ivancna Gorica e Gazzo). In every stage, the run was anticipated by a Conference about Sport and Health with local autorithies, expert and testimonial to promove the beneficial effects of sport and physical activity on people's health.The total number of partecipants involved is been about 16.000 people (runners involved in the preparatory phase, in the conferences and in the various stages of final Run and with the dissemination) and 32 grassroot sport clubs. The official delegation of Run4Eu consisted of 78 people: 20 from Italy, 22 from Romania, 19 from Hungary and 17 from Slovenia. The delegations travelled from one city to another by bus. This facilitated mutual knowledge, integration and socialization.