Sports For Different Heroes

The project aims to raise public awareness and facilitate the social inclusion of people with mental retardation through sport activities. Sports have the ability to transcend cultural and social barriers which make them an excellent means for inclusion and adaptation. At the beginning, Olympiacos organized a kick-off meeting with the presence of the other four clubs’ representatives discussing the project implementation, the focus and the range of the activities. During the project, different actions took place from all partners of this project, in their countries. These events aimed to the social inclusion in the local communities and their health improvement. All partners participated actively in this E+ Sport project from the beginning, to the end, including the extended period of additional 6 months.Our clubs organized sport activities for the people with disabilities so as to entertain and play sports. The participants had the chance to practice their bodies and enjoy their time under the guidance of the athletes. All athletes enjoyed their interaction and sport activities with these people demonstrating the importance of organizing such actions. Moreover, Olympiacos runs a social media campaign with videos of athletes that support the project and disseminate its message. As the concept of inclusion in the field of sports is not sufficiently developed, we believe that this project is a significant step towards a higher goal. These multisport days achieved to promote the physical activity to the people with mental retardation, the importance, benefits and prospects of sport in the life of vulnerable social groups such as people with disabilities and the elderly ones, in order to show its crucial role in the socialization of these social groups and the increase of their physical activity.The essence of the project can be summarized as having a unique experience for its coaches, staff and managements. This experience has a profound influence also on the further development not just the clubs for disabled, but also all the clubs that have followed the actions of this project and the sharing of the know-how and benefits of integration of persons with mental disabilities.