On November 28th, the Future++ team presented the development and key outcomes of the project 'Sports and Social Inclusion: Future for Children FUTURE++' during the Final Conference held at the FCBarcelona 1998 Auditorium in Barcelona.
Fueled by Erasmus+ funding, the Future++ project aimed to strengthen collaboration and share best practices in the realm of sports to advance social inclusion. The conference attracted over 70 participants from local sports clubs and federations, all sharing enthusiasm for the project's vision. Hosted by the Barca Foundation and GEDI Media, the final conference marked the culmination of over two years of concerted efforts and international cooperation among esteemed partners.
The conference began with a warm welcome from the FCB Foundation members, followed by a brief introduction to the previous Future+ project by Gisela Gorriz. Subsequently, representatives from INEFC and TUM, including Dr. Hande Hofmann and Valentin Nusser from the Professorship of Exercise, Nutrition and Health, elaborated on the project's research cycle and the European-based Coach Program.
After a brief coffee break, team members from CEIPES and the Municipality of Lousada presented the project's outcomes and tools: an e-learning platform, the European Network, and the pilot test results. These tools aim to provide educational programs and a European network for coaches, enhancing their comprehension and implementation of social inclusion practices in sports.
The event concluded with an open discussion featuring various professionals from the sports field, including Maria Rovira, Sports Director of Sport2live; Gonzalo Flores, a teacher and researcher at the PE and Sport Department of the University of Seville; and Juan Carlos Ramos, President of Federació Catalana de Lluita and co-founder of the Club de Lluita Olímpica La Mina. The panel discussion concluded with questions posed to the Future++ Team.
The entire conference proved to be a resounding success, attendees were provided with a deep dive into the project's accomplishments, learning experiences, and future implications for the sports community.