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Beyond Barriers
Beyond Barriers Started in Thessaloniki
10.02.2026
On 9 February 2026, the Erasmus+ Sport project Beyond Barriers: Making Inclusive Sports Visible officially began with an international kick-off meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece, hosted by AETOI Thessalonikis. The meeting marked the start of a European initiative aimed at strengthening the visibility, communication capacity, and inclusion efforts of sport organisations working with people with disabilities. The project is coordinated by Bulgarian Sports Development Association (BSDA) and is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. Representatives of both partner organisations met in person to align on the strategic vision, implementation framework, and expected impact of the project.
During the kick-off meeting, the partners discussed the background and rationale of Beyond Barriers, focusing on the persistent challenges faced by disability sport organisations across Europe. Despite progress in recent years, many organisations continue to struggle with limited media visibility, insufficient digital communication skills, restricted access to sponsorship, and underrepresentation of athletes with disabilities in public narratives. Beyond Barriers responds directly to these challenges by placing communication, storytelling, and digital capacity at the centre of inclusive sport development. The meeting laid the foundations for the project’s implementation, including agreement on the work plan and timeline, division of roles and responsibilities, research methodology, project management structure, communication procedures, quality assurance mechanisms, and dissemination strategy in line with Erasmus+ requirements. Special attention was given to sustainability and the long-term use of project results beyond the funding period.
Over the course of the project, Beyond Barriers will carry out comparative research in the partner countries to map current communication and visibility practices of sport organisations working with people with disabilities. Based on the research findings, a comprehensive capacity-building programme will be developed, including training sessions, national workshops, and digital learning resources focused on digital storytelling, inclusive marketing, social media presence, and partnership development.
A key outcome of the project will be the Beyond Barriers Toolkit, an open-access resource compiling practical guidelines, communication templates, and good practices to support organisations in promoting disability sport more effectively. In parallel, a coordinated European awareness and visibility campaign will highlight inspiring stories of athletes with disabilities and inclusive sport initiatives, contributing to positive representation and a shift in public attitudes. The project will conclude with a dissemination event bringing together sport organisations, experts, sponsors, and policymakers to present results, exchange experiences, and explore future cooperation opportunities. All project outputs, including training materials, the Toolkit, and communication resources, will remain freely available on project webpage www.sportbeyondbarriers.org, to ensure lasting impact. Beyond Barriers contributes directly to the EU Work Plan for Sport 2021–2027 and the European Disability Strategy, reinforcing sport as a powerful tool for social inclusion, equal opportunities, and digital transformation across Europe.
Over the course of the project, Beyond Barriers will carry out comparative research in the partner countries to map current communication and visibility practices of sport organisations working with people with disabilities. Based on the research findings, a comprehensive capacity-building programme will be developed, including training sessions, national workshops, and digital learning resources focused on digital storytelling, inclusive marketing, social media presence, and partnership development.
A key outcome of the project will be the Beyond Barriers Toolkit, an open-access resource compiling practical guidelines, communication templates, and good practices to support organisations in promoting disability sport more effectively. In parallel, a coordinated European awareness and visibility campaign will highlight inspiring stories of athletes with disabilities and inclusive sport initiatives, contributing to positive representation and a shift in public attitudes. The project will conclude with a dissemination event bringing together sport organisations, experts, sponsors, and policymakers to present results, exchange experiences, and explore future cooperation opportunities. All project outputs, including training materials, the Toolkit, and communication resources, will remain freely available on project webpage www.sportbeyondbarriers.org, to ensure lasting impact. Beyond Barriers contributes directly to the EU Work Plan for Sport 2021–2027 and the European Disability Strategy, reinforcing sport as a powerful tool for social inclusion, equal opportunities, and digital transformation across Europe.
