Project news

Uplifting online module of #SportDiplomacyAcademy has been completed
25.11.2021
In the period 15th of September - 21th of November, 2021, the online module of the Sports Diplomacy Academy took place. The online lectures were delivered with various speakers and experts in the field of media, sport for development, social entrepreneurship in sport, policy development and more. The module was originally planned to be implemented in Milan, Italy.

The fourth module of the Sport Diplomacy Academy included the following speakers and topics:
• Access to public funds for sports stakeholders, EU Regulatory matters that have an impact on sports and institutional relations - Valerio Giovannini: Public Affairs Specialist, Executive Office/ National Governance & Global Institutions of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
• Inclusive design of sport with the concrete example of Baskin (a new sport invented in Cremona in 2003 which objective is to create an activity literally for everyone) - Alexy Valet: Consultant in Training Processes and Project Design (Sport, education, inclusion & innovation).
• Social entrepreneurship in sport in action through the sustainable model of Play More (social enterprise, based in Milan) - Luigi de Micco: co-founder of the organization presented the long path to create meaning through sport, ensuring that participation of everyone is granted, aiming to reach sport, wellbeing and integration in local community.
• How to make #SportDiplomacy more concrete and tangible? Paolo Bertaccini: the founder of “Sport4Impact” FORUM, highlighted the evidence that “sport is not good for itself: it depends on people and how they use make of it”. Ronan O’Laire, representing United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNODC mentioned that Governments are getting involve to tackle crime in sport, developing cooperation and coordination mechanisms.
• Didactic Communication in the School and Sport Sector - Maurizio Mondoni: Professor and researcher at the Catholic University of Milan, Meritorious National Federation Coach, Meritorious National Instructor Minibasket.
• Fundraising in Sport - Benedetto di Blasi: Fundraiser at Fondazione Milan. The main insight that Mr. di Blasi shared with the diplomats in sport suits was to “show the IMPACT of what they are doing and to do it through EMOTIONS as in sport we are “selling” dreams.”
• Promotion of Fair Play principles in sport - Gabor Deregan: Head of Presidential Office at “International Fair Play Committee”.
• European Sport Diplomacy policy development - Prof. Thierry Zinz: Faculty of Sports Sciences of the Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium. Prof. Zinz highlighted that ‘’Sport Diplomacy promotes a sense of identity, belonging and unity beyond citizens" and inspired the participants to become even better ambassadors of their sport and country.
• Working with media in Sport - Ivan Boyanov: sports journalist with more than a decade of experience in the field of broadcast media industry. He included multiple practical tips&tricks on how to be prepared for different kind of media participation, how to behave during an interview, what to consider when transmitting your message to the audience.
• Working with specific target groups - Diego Capuzzi & Bice Saccò Technician and Athlete of ASD No Limits. They included multiple practical aspects of working with persons with disabilities. No Limits is an organization affiliated with Special Olympics, who have actively participated for some time in competitions, tournaments and matches organized by the Federation.

The Sport Diplomacy Academy project is a legacy of the first Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council, which took place in the first half of 2018. The project focus on cooperation with the Western Balkans as a logical continuation of all activities carried out under the #EU2018BG Priority: Perspective of the EU and the Western Balkans connectivity, citing the Sofia Declaration and the Sofia and EU Priority Agenda for the EU and the Western Balkans. The European Union and the Western Balkans must continue to invest in efforts to strengthen cooperation and the exchange of good practices focused on democracy, security and fundamental human rights.

Project ensures the educational mobility of coaches and other staff of sport organisations (incl. volunteers) linked to professional and grassroots sport. The four mobility modules, which will be implemented in each partner country, will improve the skills and competencies of a total of 80 sports professionals, as well as their qualifications, through learning mobility. Learning mobility is planned as an investment in human capital and a contribution to the capacity building of various sport organisations with clear focus on building a network of well-trained sport diplomats.

After the implemented project mobilities, each of the partner countries will possess with at least 20 well trained “diplomats in sport suits” with great skills and knowledge in the field of sport diplomacy (policy dialogue and international relationship, campaign creation, successful communication (verbal & non-verbal), public speaking, media relationships, protocol and etiquette, EU foreign policy and values). The network that project will create (4 countries-20 people each) will focus on supporting and developing EU integration of the Western Balkans in the field of sport and will be quality provider of EU values in their local environment. For the delivery of the modules will be recruited the best EU experts in each field and non-formal educational methods are going to be used.

Project involves 4 partner countries - Bulgarian sports development association - academy coordinator and initiator, Rijeka sport association, Croatia, the Italian sport organization “L’ORMA” and BRAVO - Bosnian Youth and sport NGO). Partners have been working together for several years already, implementing different scale of projects and cooperating in different frameworks in the fields of sport, education and youth policy.

#SportDiplomacyAcademy project is co-funded by the European Union and includes also the following concrete results:
• 80 “diplomats in sport suits” /20 per country/, focused on delivering EU integration in the countries of Western Balkan area through sport;
• National, regional and local dissemination events (involving at least 400 people) - multiplying effect from the acquired skills and knowledge;
• Platform for WB sport development - practical tool for resources and EU sport values with accent on Sport diplomacy and the good governance in sport.

Learning mobility will be planned as an investment in human capital and a contribution to the capacity building of various sport organizations with clear focus on building a network of well-trained sport diplomats.
• Module 1 (Bulgaria): Sport diplomacy, EU foreign policy, EU values, Policy dialogue and international relationships;
• Module 2 (Bosnia and Herzegovina): Summary and feedback of Module 1, local practice reports, Good governance in sport;
• Module 3 (Croatia): Summary and feedback of Module 2, local practice reports, Campaign creation, Successful communication (verbal & non-verbal), Public speaking, Protocol and etiquette;
• Module 4 (Italy): Summary and feedback of Module 3, local practice reports, Working with media, Working with specific target groups, Sport diplomacy for development, How to put on practice the knowledge we got.


Sport Diplomacy Academy
Testimonials
Katina Simeonova
Tennis coach and chairman of “Path of wish” NGO, Bulgaria
My first project I have ever taken part in and it was properly chosen. I met a lot of good friends there, I learnt a plenty of new knowledge. I will always be grateful to all people who made that project come true. Life changing event! Thank you!
Jasmin Pandur
Master of Sports and Health, and PhD student of kinesiology at University Dzemal Bijedic Mostar, Sports director of SD Reflex
 Great project with no ending, what we gain at this models we will have forever. Great friendships,great knowledge, great memories which will always remain me that we must be open minded to new people and opportunities. I will be open for projects and meetings with this great crew from 4 different countries.
Vanja Subašić
Principal in elementary school and basketball coach in B.C. WBS Teslić, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Chance for personal growth in field of knowing possibilities of how to use sport as tool for diplomacy when needed. Also it was place where I could meet sport workers from my and three different counties and share knowledge and experience in the field of sport. My network of new partners in SDA is something very precious to me. Speakers brought their ideas, knowledge and experience in the way of motivation.
Filip Dujlovic
Volleyball couch and scout at Haok Mladost Zagreb
Great project with no ending, what we gain at this modules we will have forever. Great friendships, great knowledge, great memories which will always remain me that we must be open minded to new people and opportunities. I will be open for projects and meetings with this great crew from 4 different countries.  
Darko Pirc
Athlete, coach and president Cross Sport Delnice
For me the sport of Diplomacy Academy is one big family where connection, supporting each other is one of the greatest virtues. The goal is to empower sports, to network sports experts and the sector.
Leo Smrekar
Fencing expert and student of Physical Conditioning of Athletes in Zagreb, Croatia
Exceptional opportunity to gain competences complementary to my study of Physical Conditioning of Athletes. I met a lot of persons related to sport from different countries, made friendships, learned about other sports and topics that will help me in future professional life.
Adela Kulic
President and coach in Association for sport and recreation Vitruvius, Zagreb, Croatia
Great experience! Learn a lot, and met new friends and future project’s partners.  
Haris Idriz
Former Basketball player and coach in Spars Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
 An excellent project, loads of information, great people involved in sports, great tool to use in sports and in life.
Sara Brivio
Student at Milano University in Social Policies, member of ASD Oltretutto97, sport association for people with disability
Sport Diplomacy Academy is the best opportunity I have ever had to grow as a person and to learn a lot. I met amazing people who really inspire me and I am grateful to this project for every moment we spent together. 
Marco Vailati
Student, basketball player and coach, Italy
 SDA is a great project with a lot of people from different countries. It makes a lot of connection between all the participants and it helps me to know new things on sport.  
Alessia Ceresoli
Student of Educacion Science for Sport in the University of Bergamo, athlete of basketball
 Sport Diplomacy Academy for me is a big opportunity to learn, to know and to grow. All the people I knew makes me learn something new and I’m really grateful.
Luca Amadessi
Italian dreamer, AL2 Sport co-founder and sports events organizer
 An opportunity to grow up, learn and increase the European network in the sport environment.
Stefano Zaniboni
Passionate student and world travelling lover
 Network
Mihail Dadov
Personal trainer and athlete
Way to understand some core aspects of sport movement in political aspects, understanding European principles in sports and sports organisations and good practices as well 
Raya Ivanova
Sports journalist and football referree
 Amazing experience  
Ivaylo Zdravkov
Golf coach, sport expert
 Inspiration
Igor Mirić
Sport manager and enthusiast
Movement, Energy, Experience, Team
Sara Marini
Head Coach in L'Orma S.S.D. and artistic gymnasts Coach
An opportunity for growth and training. An amazing and unique way to compare with other experiences in the field of sports diplomacy.
Martin Mehandjiev
Basketball manager
 A great opportunity that can enrich a lot of people dealing with sports.
Georgi Bogdanov
Sport fitness and health coach
 Good sport international product
Selma Memović
Women Football Coach, Project Coordinator & Social Media Manager in WFC SFK 2000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
 It’s a group of different people that have different ideas and skills that they use for one goal. That goal, is to make the world a better place with the help of sports. The shared idea is that sports bring us together, and will continue doing that. 
Sabina Topčić
A mountaineer and project manager at Association Vedro
 A learning curve in sports world: the way we interact with one another, share our knowledge, expertise and experiences.
Damir Agovic
Judo black belt, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt, coach and instructor of both. Sport Diplomat, from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
 A missing link that connects sport with different levels and layers of society.
Marica Barbieri
International Project coordinator and student in training. I have many passions and my first objective is to make a positive impact, small or big, on Society.
 Growth
Boris Kurilić
President of the Mountaineering Association Kamenjak
 The importance of working together...
Gabriela Zlatarova
Marketing expert, National Sport Base PLC
 Emotional school and a useful lesson
Milivoje Lujić
Tennis trainer at TK Priboj, Bosnia and Herzegovina
 Sport family...
Nijaz Memić
Paralympic athlete and sport club president in paraalpine skiing, Bosnia and Herzegovina
 Sport Diplomacy Academy for me is more than a simple project.
Eros D'Ambrosio
Physical education teacher and handball coach and rider (bike, triathlon)
 For me Sport Diplomacy Academy is discovering new world