INTERACT+ Workshop Equips Flying Disc Federations to Lead Sport for All Initiatives

In January 2025, the sixth Capacity Building Workshop of the INTERACT+ project was held online. Over four consecutive Thursdays, the workshop’s modules were delivered to more than 40 participants from National Federations affiliated with the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF). International Table Tennis Federation Foundation TT4ALL Coordinator Mayssa Bsaibes and European Flying Disc Federation Sport4All Advisor Jörg Benner led the workshop. The participants engaged in presentations, discussions, and group work, exploring the potential of “Sport for All” and sharing case studies and best practices from Flying Disc sports in various contexts.

The participants, representing 35 countries across all regions, received training designed to equip and empower them as “Sport for All” leaders. With enthusiasm, they undertook a self-evaluation process to identify specific challenges and opportunities within their organizations. Then, they developed action plans for designing and implementing inclusive initiatives tailored to diverse target groups in their countries.

As the INTERACT+ Capacity building workshop training progresses, we have continually updated our illustration of the INTERACT+ Model of Sport for All development.

Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing a strong motivation to drive change within their respective countries. The course not only deepened their understanding of inclusive practices but also fostered a sense of community as they exchanged best practices and success stories.

We received positive feedback from Erik van der Spek, President of the Dutch Frisbee Association, who spoke about the power of culture and inclusion: “The culture of frisbee is strong, but that same culture can also pose a barrier to new people who may struggle to feel at home quickly. It’s important to nurture this culture but also make room for people who are unfamiliar with the norms and rituals of the sport. This means actively investing in creating a culture of inclusivity for everyone and giving new people the space to express what makes them feel comfortable or not. Diversity is not just about attracting new members but also involving your current members and actively supporting them in the process of change.”

Overall, the training was a great success, reinforcing the positive impact of the INTERACT+ Capacity Building Workshops. We continue to witness how these sessions empower participants and drive meaningful change. You can read more about the training here.

BACKGROUND 

INTERACT+ (International and European Sport Organisations Activating Citizens Plus) is a project led by TAFISA (The Association for International Sport for All) in collaboration with nine partner organizations, running from January 2023 to the end of 2025. To date, the project has delivered six Capacity Building Workshops, engaging over 150 participants worldwide. The project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. It aims to enhance the tools and resources built by its predecessor project, INTERACT, to complement international sports organizations’ activities and support them in developing Sport for All. In addition, it will continue the work done by INTERACT to position international sports organizations as critical leaders of the Sport for All and physical activity movement and effectively contribute to a change of paradigm and delivery system within the sports movement. INTERACT+ builds on the learnings, results, and deliverables of its predecessor project.