Boccia for Inclusion through Cooperation and Educational ProgramS

ongoing

Participation in sports and exercise is significantly lower among people with severe motor impairments (SMI), who depend on others for almost every aspect of their daily life. Using the sport of boccia, the consortium wants to make a difference in their lives, by: - Increase freedom of choice in leisure activity for people with SMI. - (Online) curriculum development & capacity building (coaches, referees & volunteers). - Further develop boccia in 3 EU countries and introduce the sport to potential new athletes within the target group. - Building and expanding national and international networks within the sport and between people with SMI and the able-bodied community. Activities: develop (online) curriculum, educate coaches & referees, sports activities focused on the target group as well as on including different target groups within the able-bodied community in the sport in a staff role, develop best-practices and an implementation model, build national and international networks. 3 partners: Gehandicaptensport Nederland – Disability Sports Netherlands (Lead), G-sport Vlaanderen – Disability Sports Flanders (Belgium) & Croatian Boccia Association. BICEPS educates and connects people with and without disabilities throughout the society and provides sports & exercise opportunities to those with severe motor impairments. Impactful communication (incl. Paralympic ambassadors and storytelling) will lead to sustainable collaboration structures and assures more persons with SMI can be reached in the future. Target groups: SMI group + social environment, coaches, referees, students, other sports staff, 50+ people and the general public. Long term gains: - Awareness for people with SMI. - Improved social inclusion, equity, freedom of choice in leisure activities, and structural physical activity of people with SMI. - Online learning materials and guidelines are scalable and applicable in whole EU. - Knowledge exchange & professional education for Boccia.