WinterSport is Coming

The main aim of the project “Winter Sport is Coming” was to promote winter sports as physical activity and as an educational tool to support social inclusion, personal development, intercultural dialogue and European citizenship among young people from different backgrounds. From a long-term perspective, the project aims to increase the participation of young people in winter sports.Main activities in the scope of the project were development and implementation of the Winter Sport Camps. We created and organized various models of Winter Sports Camp in 4 countries for different target groups. Camps include elements of non-formal education methods and can be implemented by other sports organizations in the future. The aim of the camps was to foster young people’s attitude and motivation to practice winter sports and at the same time explore the educational dimension of winter sports.Impact of the project was on diverse target groups:1. Young people – participants of the Winter Sport Camps:- got new knowledge of Winter Sports and improved their Winter Sports skills;- improved their physical fitness and increased participation in physical activity;- increased their attitudes of tolerance and intercultural dialogue;- improved their soft skills like teamwork, flexbility, planning etc.;2. Partner organizations: - got experience in international cooperation in the field of winter sports implementation with the other European partners;- exchanged their experience and knowledge in the field of education through sport with partners from other EU countries, learnt about good practices in the field of winter sports;- improved thier internal capacities in the use of non formal education and winter sports methodology;3. Trainers and Athletes:- improved their knowledge of non-formal education methods and competences and using them in combination with winter sports;- got experience in implementing educational activities for young people through the use of winter sports;- enhanced their contacts and networks with other institutions working in the field of sport and non-formal education, as well as motivation and capacities to take part in future initiatives.4. Sport organizations particularly those in the field of winter sports and NGOs:- acquired new tools (guide) how to implement Winter Sport Camps or other winter sport activities, particularly for young people with fewer opportunities;- increased capacities of developing their own activities/programmes in the field. One of the tangible output of the project is publication „Winter Sport Camps – Guide for Organizers“. It contains description of the camps and our recommendations for future camps. We have also identified and analyzed good practices in this field - winter sports camps organized in the past in the countries of the organizations involved in this project (Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy and Slovakia) and other EU countries.