BeActiveTogether

On June 5, 2025, the athletics track at the National Sports Academy “Vasil Levski” was filled with energy, smiles, and genuine joy. The occasion was the inclusive sports event “We Can Too!”, which brought together over 40 participants with intellectual disabilities and 7 contestants from the popular TV show “Desafío”. The event was organized by the “Information and Consultations” Association, which administers the “St. Marina” Center for People with Intellectual Disabilities – Sofia, and Bulgarian sports development association, with the support of the Sofia Municipality – Student District. Athletes from the athletics club “Golden Team” – Svishtov, SEN Sport Sambo for Development, Center for People with Intellectual Disabilities – Pernik, and the SC Adapted Sports took part in the competitions.

More than 500 children took part in the traditional athletics competition for kids – Darko Team Baby Cup, held on May 11, 2025, at the “Vasil Levski” National Stadium in the capital. The seventh edition of the Darko Team Baby Cup brought together young athletes aged 4 to 13 in an innovative format that included exercises from the “Kids’ Athletics” program and 50 and 60-meter sprints. All finishers received custom-designed medals, and the group warm-up before the races helped reduce stress and created a pleasant atmosphere for participants, coaches, and parents. The mascot, Darko Junior the Wasp, supported the children and added even more spirit to the event.

The #BeActiveTogether project officially launched with a kick-off meeting in Sofia, held in the period March 22-25, 2025, bringing together representatives from Bulgarian Sports Development Association (BSDA) and AETOI Thessalonikis to initiate efforts toward inclusive sports opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, #BeActiveTogether addresses the social exclusion and discrimination faced by individuals with intellectual disabilities. The project seeks to create meaningful sports mobility experiences, integrating participants into national and international sporting events, fostering socialization, empowerment, and skill-building through athletics training.

In Sofia, during a training session of the Unified Basketball NSA, Bulgarian sports development association celebrated the World Down Syndrome Day in a special way. More than 40 athletes with intellectual disabilities, along with their partners and coaches, celebrated this special day together by wearing colorful socks – a symbol of diversity, rights, and opportunities for all.

On 6th of March in Brussels, Belgium, the European Parliament hosted the ‘Sports of the Future’ event, bringing together athletes, policymakers, and advocates to discuss the transformative power of sports in promoting social inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunities. The event was organized by Nikos Pappas, Member of the European Parliament (MEP), who has been actively involved in promoting equitable access to sports and social inclusion policies across Europe.

On January 23, 2025, representatives of the Bulgarian Sports Development Association (BSDA) participated in the Erasmus+ Sport Kick-Off Event, organized by EACEA. This event marked the official launch of the new Erasmus+ Sport projects set to begin in 2025.

On the 16th of December 2024, the annual edition of the Sport Info Days took place at the European Commission building in Brussels, providing detailed information on the opportunities offered by the Erasmus+ sport strand to promote sport and physical activity at local, regional and national level. The event brought together 500 sports experts and was opened by Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport: "Sport is a pillar of inclusion in our societies and democracies, driving positive change for the better.

The #BeActiveTogether project is firmly grounded in the urgent need to combat discrimination and social exclusion experienced by individuals with intellectual disabilities. It recognizes that sports can be a transformative force, as demonstrated by the project's plan to provide international sports opportunities for these underserved communities, including those living in institutions. By offering them the chance to participate in national and international actions, such as the planned #BeActiveTogether sport events, the project directly translates the EU's commitment to freedom of movement into a tangible experience for participants.