Game Changers at the European Week of Sport (EWOS) 2024

EWOS is an annual initiative celebrated across Europe under the #BeActive slogan, aiming to promote an active and healthy lifestyle. This year, it will be held from September 23rd to 30th, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are marking it through the "Game Changers – Promoting Human Rights and Equality through Sport" project, celebrating the transformative power of sport as a tool for driving social change.

Game Changers – Promoting Human Rights and Equality through Sport

The Game Changers project demonstrates that sport is far more than just a physical activity – it has the power to connect different communities, promote values like inclusion, equality, and respect, and serve as a platform where human rights are affirmed through sports and play. This initiative supports local stakeholders in creating sports events that include all members of society, regardless of their differences, abilities, or identities.

European Week of Sport - Fostering Unity through Sport

As part of the European Week of Sport 2024, the Game Changers project is supporting five sports events across Bosnia and Herzegovina, each designed to promote inclusion, equality, and the connection of local communities through sport. These events serve as a perfect example of how sport can become a platform for promoting positive values and driving social change.

What Are These Events?

1. Kilometers of Health (29.09.2024, Bugojno) – A cycling journey and sports games at the "Duboka" mountain lodge, gathering all generations and promoting a healthy lifestyle and a sense of togetherness.
    
2. School Sports – Sports for All (27.09.2024, Mostar) – School sports competitions that include all students, with a special focus on involving girls in all sports and creating equal opportunities for everyone.
    
3. Children's Tennis Tournament 'Žepče Open 2024' (28.09.2024, Žepče) – An event that brings together young tennis players, providing them with the opportunity to participate in an inclusive and fair environment, while developing sportsmanship and mutual respect.
    
4. Sport is for Everyone, Not Just a Few! (25th & 26th September 2024, Gornji Vakuf - Uskoplje) – Various sports disciplines and workshops that emphasize gender equality and the inclusion of the Roma community, promoting the message that sport belongs to everyone.
    
5. The Power of Sport (29.09.2024, Doboj) – A workshop titled “Promoting Human Rights through Sport – Achieving Gender Equality and Overcoming Divisions and Prejudices,” organized by the badminton club at the Doboj Sports Hall, bringing together young people from different backgrounds and highlighting the strength of sport in connecting and empowering diverse social groups.

Why is this important?

These events demonstrate how sport can become a powerful platform for creating positive change in society, promoting equality and inclusion. By uniting communities through these activities, we showcase that sport can challenge stereotypes, break down barriers, and encourage a sense of belonging for all.

Join Us and Support These Initiatives!

We invite everyone to join and support these activities, participate in the sports events, and together help us promote the values of inclusion, equality, and human rights through sport. Be a part of the positive changes in our communities, and let’s create a more inclusive society where everyone has a place.

Stay active and be part of the change!

The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by project partners – the fairplay initiative (VIDC) from Austria, in collaboration with local associations “Igrajmo Zajedno Inicijativa” (IZI) and the “Youth Initiative for Human Rights” (YIHR) from Bosnia and Herzegovina.