ICSSPE delivers second “Sport for All” Workshop in Lisbon and Concludes Training Phase

ICSSPE has successfully delivered the second training workshop under the joint Council of Europe and European Union “Sport For All: Promoting Inclusion and Combating Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities” project, held in Lisbon, Portugal. The 3-day workshop brought together participants from Ireland, Armenia, Cyprus and Portugal, representing a diverse mix of policy, governance, and grassroots perspectives.

 

Over the course of the workshop, participants engaged in an open and practice-oriented exchange, sharing experiences from their national contexts while exploring concrete ways to make sport more accessible and inclusive for persons with disabilities. The diversity in the room once again proved to be a key strength — different systems and realities, but a shared commitment to driving change.

A strong focus of the workshop was moving from reflection to implementation. Participants worked on translating insights into practical approaches that can be adapted within their own organisations and communities. Discussions centred on what inclusion looks like in practice, and how small, context-specific changes can have a meaningful impact on participation opportunities.

 

Common challenges emerged across countries, particularly around access to grassroots sport, coordination between stakeholders, and the need to strengthen pathways for long-term engagement. At the same time, the exchange of experiences highlighted innovative approaches already being developed at local and national level.

Beyond the sessions, the workshop provided a valuable space to build connections across countries and sectors. The opportunity to learn directly from peers facing similar challenges fostered a collaborative environment, encouraging participants to reflect, question, and co-develop ideas.

 

This exchange is central to the project’s approach — recognising that sustainable change in inclusive sport systems is driven not only by policy, but by the people and organisations working on the ground.

This second workshop marks the conclusion of this phase of the project, bringing together the learning and momentum generated across both training sessions in Ankara and Lisbon. The strong engagement from participants highlights the importance of creating interactive, international spaces where knowledge can be shared and applied.

 

ICSSPE will continue to contribute to the project’s next steps, including the development of a toolkit, and supporting the ongoing effort to strengthen inclusive sport systems and ensure that opportunities to participate in sport are accessible to all.