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Health, Solidarity and Social Cohesion with Sport
P R O J E C T S U M M A R Y

Programme: Erasmus+
Key Action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices
Action: Strategic Partnerships
Main objective of the Project: Innovation
Project Name: Health, Solidarity and Social Cohesion with Sport
Reference number: 2020-1-TR01-KA204-093342
Start date: 31/12/2020
End date: 30/12/2022
Duration: 24 months
Partners: Turkey (coordinator and 2 local partners), Spain, Greece, Romania, Poland
Sports was included in EU competences with the Lisbon Treaty. The European Union is using the definition
of sport, which was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1992 and published in the "European Sport
Charter" which was updated in 2001. The Council of Europe defines sports as any form of physical activity
that occurs through coincidental or organized participation with the aim of being physically fit and
expressing or improving mental health, creating social relations or achieving a competitive outcome at all
levels. Physical education not only contributes to people’s immediate fitness and good health but also
helps people to perform and understand physical activity better with positive lifelong repercussions.
Moreover, physical education brings about transferable knowledge and skills,such as teamwork, cultivates
respect, body and social awareness and provides a general understanding of the 'rules of the game' which
people can readily make use of in life situations. Physical activity is a fundamental means of improving
physical and mental health. For too many people, however, it has been removed from everyday life, with
dramatic effects for health and well-being. Physical inactivity is estimated to account for nearly 600.000
deaths per year. Tackling this leading risk factor would reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases,
diabetes, hypertension, some forms of cancer and psychological disorders. In addition, sport is one of the
keys to counteracting the current epidemic diseases that is posing a new global challenge to public health.
Physical activity is not just a public health issue; it also addresses the well-being of communities and
investment in future generations. Countries need to reverse the trend towards inactivity and create
conditions across Europe in which people can strengthen their health by making physical activity part of
everyday life.

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