SCORE 4 INCLUSION Brings Together Young Athletes in Póvoa de Varzim

On December 18 and 19, MAPADI, in Póvoa de Varzim, hosted the “Transnational Entrepreneurs Hip Lab”, an initiative developed within the European project SCORE 4 INCLUSION. The activity brought together 29 athletes and 5 teachers and coaches from Portugal and Spain, with the aim of developing innovative solutions to combat discrimination, racism, intolerance, and violence in sport. The event included the participation of partner entities Instituto Europeu de Estudos Superiores and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, which collaborated in the development of the activities and in promoting international cooperation among participants. Following the work previously carried out at local level by each partner organisation, this transnational activity brought together athletes from different social and cultural backgrounds for moments of reflection, debate, and exchange of experiences. The main focus was the creation of entrepreneurial and inclusive ideas aimed at promoting equal opportunities and social inclusion in the sports sector. The athletes participating in the mobility were selected by their own local groups, with special attention given to the inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities. Due to budget limitations, not all participants involved in the local phases were able to attend the international mobility, with some following the activities through virtual participation. Throughout the activity, several sessions based on non-formal and informal education methods were carried out. The programme included team-building activities, presentations of the projects developed locally, discussions on social challenges in sport, study visits, and collaborative work sessions focused on developing ideas within transnational groups. Coaches and specialists in education through sport played an important role in supporting the athletes, helping guide reflection processes and transforming identified problems into concrete intervention proposals. Environmental sustainability was also a key component throughout the mobility, following the priorities of the Erasmus+ Programme. Participants were encouraged to adopt environmentally friendly practices such as the use of reusable materials, recycling, reducing paper consumption, and using digital solutions to minimise the environmental impact of the event. The “Transnational Entrepreneurs Hip Lab” reinforced the importance of sport as a tool for social inclusion, active citizenship, and the fight against inequalities, promoting cooperation among young athletes from different countries around shared values of respect, equality, and solidarity.