Sport Diplomacy Academy

During the event, Joanna Dochevska, Chairwoman of the Bulgarian sports development association, introduced 30 participants from 19 countries to the European sport policy, as well as to the financing opportunities provided by the European Union to the sector. The participants also got acquainted with the results of the first module of the Sports Diplomacy Academy, held in Sofia, between October 11-17, 2019 and gathered 80 sports administrators, coaches and volunteers from 4 countries. 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.

During the event the #GoodGovernanceSport project was introduced - Good governance in sport project, coordinated by the Bulgarian sports development association - 590305-EPP-1-2017-1-BG-SPO-SCP has been co-funded by Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission - Sport chapter and it is a collaborative partnership of 7 countries, that will work together for 30 months, starting from 01/01/2018. #GoodGovernanceSport project aims to find a way to analyze, collect and promote good practices for appropriate visibility of decisions made, responsible bodies and transparency of sports organizations in Europe and partner countries.