On May 20, 2023, the “New Stars” athletics tournament was held at the “Vasil Levski” National Sports Academy. The tournament was organized at an extremely high level by the KLASA sports club and the director of the tournament – Assoc. prof. Plamen Nyagin. The 45th edition of the international tournament included in its program a 100 and 200-meter inclusive start, as well as shot put, in which 36 athletes with intellectual disabilities took part.

The inclusion of integrated starts in sporting events with proven traditions is extremely important support for people with disabilities and their full integration and the example of the organizers of the New Stars tournament has become a sustainable successful practice in the last few years. The participants were awarded by Prof. Apostol Slavchev – Deputy Rector of the Vasil Levski National Sports Academy and Marin Gudev – Head of the Department of Athletics at the Vasil Levski National Sports Academy.

Competitors were divided into several series, competing under the slogan #SMILE – Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement – an initiative of Bulgarian sports development association, supported by the Erasmus+ programме of the European Union, which promotes the sustainable inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in sporting activities at local, national and international level. Athletes from SC Wonders, SC APAS Sandanski, DC St. Marina, SC Adapted sports, SC Adapted basketball NSA, SC SEN, sport and sambo for development and Inspiration Garden took part in the international sports competition.

In the period 13-17 April 2023, an international sports event was held in Rijeka, Croatia, in which a total of 60 athletes with intellectual disabilities from both countries took part. During the past year, the athletes conducted training activities, in order to be maximally prepared for the international event. The program included athletics, swimming, basketball and different sports games. The Bulgarian delegation included athletes from RCSPIE – Smolyan, State facility for adults with intellectual disabilities in the town of Banya – Sonic Start, SC Adapted Sports, Adapted Basketball NSA, Center for Secured Employment “Vduhnovenie”, Protected housing for persons with intellectual disabilities, Sofia. The sports event was held with the support of students from the Adapted Physical Activity and Sports specialty (NSA “Vasil Levski”), which is becoming more and more relevant and provides prospects for the development of young people.

During the sports event, the participants also had the opportunity to meet Ognyan Zlatev, head of the European Commission’s representation in Croatia, who shared with the athletes: “The equality of all citizens of the European Union is a top priority and being part of the big EU family, we have the same rights and enjoy the same freedom.”

The international sports event is realized within the framework of the SMILE initiative – Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement, which is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union and is coordinated by Bulgarian sports development association. The initiative aims to analyse the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disabilities.

THE FOLLOWING OUTPUTS WILL BE DEVELOPED TO ACHIEVE THE PROJECT AIMS:

• Good practices toolkit edition #SMILE;
• Empowered sport experts and organizations that will continue utilizing the tools that #SMILE will develop in the project framework and onwards;
• Delivered international sport event #SMILE that will gather persons with intellectual disabilities from Bulgaria and Croatia after set of national trainings sessions in each country.

THROUGH THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES, WE AIM TO EMPOWER PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES TO:

• Discover the power of sport as an inclusion mechanism through personal experience;
• Co-create together with the partners experts a good practices tool-kit of Inclusion through sport for persons with intellectual disability and/or mental health challenges;
• Take part in an international sport event #SMILE;
• Implement local training sessions with the persons with intellectual disability and/or mental health challenges in order to ensure snowfall effect;
• Ensure good practices transfer between project partners.

#SMILE project is totally in line with the horizontal objectives, pursued by the Erasmus+ Programme, that is co-funding the present initiative, aiming to ensure inclusion and diversity in all fields of education, training, youth and sport as the project idea itself is a representation of the inclusion of a highly disadvantage group into international activities. The proposal is in line as well with the priority of encouraging participation in sport and physical activity as all the actions that SMILE will implement are focused on sustainable involvement of persons with intellectual disabilities in sport activities on local, national and international level.

The SMILE project team held a preparatory meeting to finalize organizational details for their upcoming multisport event. The event will be held in Rijeka, Croatia from April 13th to 17th, 2023, and will bring together 60 athletes with intellectual disabilities from Bulgaria and Croatia.

The SMILE project, which stands for Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, and Engagement, is an innovative initiative co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. The project aims to explore the link between sport and inclusion in a unique way, by providing opportunities for international participation in sport activities for individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or mental health challenges.

During the preparatory meeting, the SMILE project team discussed various organizational details, including event logistics, athlete accommodations, and competition rules. They also discussed ways to ensure that the event is inclusive and accessible to all participants.

The SMILE project team is committed to making this multisport event a success, as it provides a unique opportunity for athletes with intellectual disabilities to showcase their skills and abilities on an international stage. By promoting sport and inclusion, the SMILE project is helping to break down barriers and create a more inclusive society for everyone.

Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement or simply SMILE project, is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, aiming to analyse the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disability and/or mental health challenges.

(more…)

Project #SMILE (Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement) is an Erasmus+ Small collaborative partnership project held in Bulgaria and Croatia. The project aims to analyze the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring specific trainings and international participation in sports activities of persons with intellectual disabilities. An international sports event, within the framework of the initiative, will be held in Croatia in April 2023. Within the project timeline, young people and adults with intellectual disabilities will take place in various sports activities, followed by many smiles and positive emotions.

(more…)

On January 30, 2023, in the building of the European Commission in Brussels, the annual edition of the Sport Info Day was held, during which detailed information was provided about the opportunities offered by the sports sector of the Erasmus+ programme to promote sports and physical activity at local, regional and national level. The event brought together over 500 sports experts and was opened by Mariya Gabriel – European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.

(more…)

In the period October 2022 – February 2023, training activities were held within the framework of the SMILE initiative. Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement – #SMILE project aims to analyse the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disabilities. An international sports event is coming, within the framework of the initiative, which will be held in Croatia in April 2023. Within the mentioned period, young people and adults with intellectual disabilities took part in various sports activities, which they appreciated with many smiles and positive emotions.

(more…)

On December 19, 2022, a Christmas practice of the adapted basketball team was held at the Vasil Levski National Sports Academy, during which the athletes had the opportunity to practice in Christmas spirit and clothing. The event put a positive end to the weekly training in 2022 and with many gifts and positive emotions, the athletes celebrated a very successful year in which they had opportunities to compete with teams from Bulgaria and abroad. A special guest at the holiday training was the US Ambassador H.E. Hero Mustafa, who joined the practice, congratulated the team and surprised them with gifts.

(more…)

On December 16, 2022, the residents of state institution for adults with intellectual disabilities in the town of Banya – Sonic Start received Christmas gifts and best wishes for warm holidays and wonderful new moments in 2023. The Christmas campaign is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility program of Infopulse Bulgaria – a leading IT company and was realized with the support of the Bulgarian sports development association, which supports the state institution for adults with intellectual disabilities in the town of Banya – Sonic Start over the years.

(more…)

In the period 02-03 December 2022, within the framework of the third international scientific congress “Applied Sciences in Sports”, Bulgarian sports development association presented the current activities of the organization, including the SMILE initiative to leading scientists, coaches and experts from Bulgaria and abroad. Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement – #SMILE project aims to analyse the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disabilities. An international sports event is coming, within the framework of the initiative, which will be held in Croatia in April 2023.

(more…)

In the period 14/06 – 22/06/2022, in VUSB Nessebar, an adapted camp for water sports was held. The camp was attended by young people with intellectual disabilities, and the activities were led by lecturers from the four sectors of the Water Sports Department at the NSA “Vasil Levski”.

(more…)

People with intellectual disabilities and/or mental health challenges are still subject of wide discrimination and impossibility to be properly included in the society. Sport is one of the most powerful tools that can support the inclusion process and in a gentle way present an opportunity for the mentioned target group to feel accepted and part of a group. Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement #SMILE project aims to analyse the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disability and/or mental health challenges. On 24th of June a kick off meeting has been held in online environment which gathered the partners and allowed them to review and plan all project actions together.

(more…)

People with intellectual disabilities and/or mental health challenges are still subject of wide discrimination and impossibility to be properly included in the society. Sport is one of the most powerful tools that can support the inclusion process and in a gentle way present an opportunity for the mentioned target group to feel accepted and part of a group. Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement #SMILE project aims to analyse the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disability and/or mental health challenges.

(more…)