Bias – A Tale of Two Cities
The operational part of the BIAS project, the international project financed by the European Union*, began January 2024!
The first meeting was held on the 1st of February in Portugal between the 3 partners where we had the the opportunity to share the methodologies and contents to be developed together in the preceding months.
The 3 project partners, ASD La Commune (Italy), Judo Assist Ireland (Ireland) and Sport Evolution Alliance (Portugal), will be involved in study and comparison groups in the coming months, both through videoconferences and in presence in Ireland, Italy and Portugal, during which the trainers and coaches of the three countries will meet to experience inclusive practices open to families, able-bodied children and those with disabilities.
The purpose of these practices is to create a truly inclusive sports environment where children with intellectual disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder can experience the benefits of physical activity, social interaction and personal growth.
THE KEY PRINCIPLES OF THE BIAS PROJECT
The BIAS project aims at experimenting inclusive sport practices to be integrated in groups in which one or more children with disabilities are present in order to make these practices a model for teachers, coaches, parents who are or will be involved.
To reach the goal the 3 partners decided to adopt an approach to the sport based on the child and their real needs, proposing activities and materials accessible to all and increasing the difficulties gradually and only when the group as a whole proves to be ready. It will also be crucial that the instructor encourages interaction between children and collaboration to promote a sense of belonging and community.
We are excited to start this project concretely and to share practices and ideas that can be an inspiration for us and for others who work with children in the field of sport.
BIAS – Building Inclusive Attitudes in Sport
This past weekend (3rd-6th Oct '24) was an extraordinary celebration of inclusion, sport, friendship, culture, education, teamwork, and progress, as we embarked on our two-city European project, BIAS. From Thursday, October 3rd to Sunday, October 6th, the cities of Milan and Genoa in Italy became our operational base, hosting the second of three European interventions as part of our EU-funded initiative, BIAS. The project is designed to promote and enhance attitudes and approaches toward inclusive sports, with a special focus on martial arts, particularly judo.
Our intervention kicked off on Thursday immediately after landing, as we had the incredible opportunity to present our project to a group of 4th-year Sports Science students at the University Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan. This was an exciting moment where each of the partners—La Commune from Italy, Sports Evolution Alliance from Portugal, and Judo Assist Ireland—delivered presentations to an attentive and engaged audience of students. The dean of the faculty also made a significant contribution to the event, showing strong support for our project and its objectives.
Friday began with a partner meeting at La Commune’s headquarters in Milan, where we focused on project monitoring and discussed the progress we’ve made so far. One of the highlights of this meeting was reviewing the first draft of our inclusive games and exercises handbook. After enjoying a classic Italian lunch, we headed to La Commune's dojo, where we were welcomed by a large group of children, both with and without disabilities, representing various sports and martial arts disciplines. Each partner introduced a series of games and exercises that are under consideration for inclusion in our handbook. The children provided feedback by rating the activities using emojis to indicate their level of satisfaction—high, medium, or low. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and the entire experience was filled with fun and enjoyment for all.
On Saturday, our journey took us to the next phase of the project and the second city on our itinerary: the picturesque port city of Genoa. There, we had the privilege of presenting our inclusive games roadshow to an inspiring group of adults with varying abilities and disabilities. In true Italian style, we shared a delightful lunch together before continuing with our second session of the day. During the afternoon, an inclusive group of children brought boundless energy and enthusiasm to the mat, reminding us once again that learning through play in an inclusive environment fosters greater participation, is beneficial to all, promotes social progress, and, most importantly, is a lot of fun!
Our visit concluded on Sunday back in Milan, where we took some time to reflect on the remarkable progress made over the past few days while enjoying a tour of the beautiful city. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our hosts at La Commune, our partners from Sports Evolution Alliance, and the dedicated professionals of Judo Assist Ireland, whose commitment continues to represent our organisation and country at the highest level.
We now eagerly look forward to our final intervention, which will take place in Ireland in 2025, where we will be honoured to welcome our European partners to sunny Wexford.
Below are some photos of our adventures
*Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.