Project S.M.I.L.E.

On November 20, 2023, a meeting was held in Sofia, gathering specialists from the Adapted Physical Activity sector from Greece and Bulgaria. Students and the leading lecturer in Adapted Physical Education, Professor Christina Evangelinou, who has been in the Physical Education and Sports Department at the Aristotle University branch in Serres since 2003, participated. Renowned Bulgarian specialists in inclusive sports, Stefka Djobova and Ivelina Kirilova, presented the "Adapted Physical Activity and Sports" program at the NSA "Vasil Levski," which is increasingly attractive for sports professionals.

- Welcome to the SMILE Podcast: Empowering Lives Through Sports and Inclusion Welcome to the SMILE podcast, where Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, and Engagement come together to create a transformative experience. We are thrilled to take you on an inspiring journey into the heart of the #SMILE initiative.

On October 7, 2023, the "Happy Hand in Hand" festival took place in Plovdiv, gathering people with disabilities, their families, and those empathetic to their challenges at the Rowing Base. Part of the #SMILE team had the opportunity to showcase their athletic skills and abilities. The event, organized by the "Parallel World" association for the seventh consecutive year, featured participants engaging in various sports activities such as pickleball, volleyball, field hockey, badminton, capoeira, boxing, basketball, Zumba, and wall climbing.

On October 5, 2023, in Lublin, the European Youth Capital for 2023, the annual SALTO Awards ceremony was held. Representing the Bulgarian Sports Development Association (#SMILE coordinator), Yoanna Dochevska, the chairperson of the organization, attended and accepted the award. The SALTO Awards aim to recognize outstanding work and inspire young people, European citizens, decision-makers, Erasmus+ program candidates, and European Solidarity Corps candidates to have a greater impact.

Par-Olympia event was held in Athens in the period 27.09 - 04.10.2023 and part of #SMILE team had new international opportunity to show their sport skills and abilities. The Bulgarian delegation consisted of 6 athletes with intellectual disabilities and was accompanied by students from the Adapted Physical Activity and Sports specialty (NSA “Vasil Levski”), which is becoming more and more attractive as profession and provides prospects for the development of young people.

The #BeActive European Week of Sport took place between September 23 and 30, 2023, with all residents and guests of Sofia having the opportunity to become part of the largest sports celebration in Europe. The European Week of Sport is an initiative of the European Commission, held in September throughout Europe since 2015. Through the week, conducted in the form of a campaign to promote physical activity, the numerous benefits of sports and physical activity are popularized, and everyone, regardless of age, origin, or physical condition, can participate in it.

In the period 12-15 of September 2023, in Bulgaria was held the final project meeting of SMILE initiative – Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement, which is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union and is coordinated by Bulgarian sports development association. The initiative aims to analyse the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disabilities.

From September 1st to September 6th, 2023, training activities were held in support of the #SMILE initiative at the multifunctional sports hall 'Arena Botevgrad,' Botevgrad, Bulgaria. The Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement – #SMILE project aims to analyze the relationship between sports and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by providing opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to participate in international sports activities.

In the period 12/06 – 20/06/2022, in VUSB Nessebar, an adapted camp for water sports was held. The camp was attended by young people with intellectual disabilities, and the activities were led by lecturers from the four sectors of the Water Sports Department at the NSA "Vasil Levski".

On June 16, 2023, an international conference "Innovations and good European practices" was held at the Grand Hotel Sofia, organized by Association Sport Club "Comac Sport" within the framework of the "Come and Play 4.0" project, EAC-2020-0745, co-funded by the European union. "Come and Play 4.0" aims to develop and widely promote innovative forms of practicing sport and physical activity, suitable for people of different ages, through a new intergenerational sport program, using digital tools and creating mobile playgrounds.

On June 3, 2023, for another year, Familathlon – the largest outdoor celebration dedicated to sports and entertainment, gathered hundreds of citizens and guests of the city of Sofia on the large meadow in South Park. Bulgarian sports development association actively participated in the event, presenting the activities of the current initiatives, that are co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union:

On May 20, 2023, the "New Stars" athletics tournament was held at the "Vasil Levski" National Sports Academy. The tournament was organized at an extremely high level by the KLASA sports club and the director of the tournament – Assoc. prof. Plamen Nyagin. The 45th edition of the international tournament included in its program a 100 and 200-meter inclusive start, as well as shot put, in which 36 athletes with intellectual disabilities took part.

In the period 13-17 April 2023, an international sports event was held in Rijeka, Croatia, in which a total of 60 athletes with intellectual disabilities from both countries took part. During the past year, the athletes conducted training activities, in order to be maximally prepared for the international event. The program included athletics, swimming, basketball and different sports games. The Bulgarian delegation included athletes from RCSPIE – Smolyan, State facility for adults with intellectual disabilities in the town of Banya – Sonic Start, SC Adapted Sports, Adapted Basketball NSA, Center for Secured Employment “Vduhnovenie”, Protected housing for persons with intellectual disabilities, Sofia. The sports event was held with the support of students from the Adapted Physical Activity and Sports specialty (NSA "Vasil Levski"), which is becoming more and more relevant and provides prospects for the development of young people.

Augmented reality is an interactive experience that enhances the real world with computer-generated perceptual information. Using software, apps, and hardware such as AR glasses, augmented reality overlays digital content onto real-life environments and objects. #SMILE project team presents an augmented reality experience, which is free of charge and can be installed on mobile devices using both operating systems. The aim of the AR application #SMILE is to provide a soothing environment and opportunity for a pleasant experience in times of difficulty. Enjoy #SMILE and immerse yourself in augmented reality.

On January 30, 2023, in the building of the European Commission in Brussels, the annual edition of the Sport Info Day was held, during which detailed information was provided about the opportunities offered by the sports sector of the Erasmus+ programme to promote sports and physical activity at local, regional and national level. The event brought together over 500 sports experts and was opened by Maria Gabriel – European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.

In the period October 2022 – February 2023, training activities were held within the framework of the SMILE initiative. Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement – #SMILE project aims to analyse the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disabilities. An international sports event is coming, within the framework of the initiative, which will be held in Croatia in April 2023. Within the mentioned period, young people and adults with intellectual disabilities took part in various sports activities, which they appreciated with many smiles and positive emotions.

On December 19, 2022, a Christmas practice of the adapted basketball team was held at the Vasil Levski National Sports Academy, during which the athletes had the opportunity to practice in Christmas spirit and clothing. The event put a positive end to the weekly training in 2022 and with many gifts and positive emotions, the athletes celebrated a very successful year in which they had opportunities to compete with teams from Bulgaria and abroad. A special guest at the holiday training was the US Ambassador H.E. Hero Mustafa, who joined the practice, congratulated the team and surprised them with gifts.

On December 16, 2022, the residents of state facility for adults with intellectual disabilities in the town of Banya – Sonic Start received Christmas gifts and best wishes for warm holidays and wonderful new moments in 2023. The Christmas campaign is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility program of Infopulse Bulgaria – a leading outreach company and was realized with the support of the Bulgarian sports development association, which supports state facility for adults with intellectual disabilities in the town of Banya – Sonic Start over the years.

In the period 02-03 December 2022, within the framework of the third international scientific congress "Applied Sciences in Sports", Bulgarian sports development association presented the current activities of the organization, including the SMILE initiative to leading scientists, coaches and experts from Bulgaria and abroad. Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement – #SMILE project aims to analyse the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disabilities. An international sports event is coming, within the framework of the initiative, which will be held in Croatia in April 2023.

People with intellectual disabilities and/or mental health challenges are still subject of wide discrimination and impossibility to be properly included in the society. Sport is one of the most powerful tools that can support the inclusion process and in a gentle way present an opportunity for the mentioned target group to feel accepted and part of a group. Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement #SMILE project aims to analyse the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disability and/or mental health challenges. On 24th of June a kick off meeting has been held in online environment which gathered the partners and allowed them to review and plan all project actions together.

In the period 14/06 – 22/06/2022, in VUSB Nessebar, an adapted camp for water sports was held. The camp was attended by young people with intellectual disabilities, and the activities were led by lecturers from the four sectors of the Water Sports Department at the NSA "Vasil Levski".

People with intellectual disabilities and/or mental health challenges are still subject of wide discrimination and impossibility to be properly included in the society. Sport is one of the most powerful tools that can support the inclusion process and in a gentle way present an opportunity for the mentioned target group to feel accepted and part of a group. Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement #SMILE project aims to analyse the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disability and/or mental health challenges. SMILE proposal will contribute to all of the three main themes as the activities we are planning with the current proposal will add extensive value to the feeling of persons with intellectual disabilities that EU rights are their rights as well. For example, our right as European citizens of moving and residing freely that is reflected in the commitment of the EU “to ensure that persons with disabilities have a real right to freedom of movement as others.” will be applied on practice through the planned international SMILE sport event that aims to ensure the feeling of moving and residing freely in the participants with disabilities.