EGLSF proudly joined the MESIS meeting in Misano Adriatico, Italy, from August 29th to September 1st, to collaborate on the development of the Outsport e-learning course. This innovative course, set to be available in eight different languages, is specially designed for sports professionals, coaches, mental trainers, PE teachers, and educators who work directly in the field.
The MESIS team, along with other project partners, reunited to fine-tune the content of the MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) and plan the pilot events slated for 2025. This e-learning course, built on the Outsport methodology, addresses discrimination based on SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sexual Characteristics) and has recently been acknowledged by the World Health Organization.
The Meeting
The gathering in Misano Adriatico followed the earlier Capacity Building Sessions (CBS) held in Rome, Ljubljana, and Lisbon, aimed at creating inclusive sports communities for LGBTQI+ individuals through education and sport. This seaside town, known for its progressive initiatives, provided the ideal setting to continue the team’s important work.
The discussions also focused on exploring new opportunities and establishing follow-ups to ensure the sustainability of the project's goals.
Good Practices
Misano Adriatico is renowned for its forward-thinking approach to inclusivity in sports. In 2022, the town introduced Italy’s first genderless locker room during a national skating tournament, which has since been showcased as a model of good practice in the Erasmus+ SGS project, where EGLSF is a partner.
The Hosts
Hosted by the AiCS Rimini Provincial Committee, the MESIS team’s meeting coincided with the 16-day-long Verde Azzurro National Figure Skating competition. More than 3,000 athletes, technical staff, and accompanying personnel from 174 AiCS-affiliated clubs, representing 14 Italian regions and the Republic of San Marino, gathered to showcase their talent.
A special thank you goes to Claudio Faragona, President of AiCS Emilia-Romagna and National Coordinator for Figure Skating, AiCS Rimini Vice-President Gabriel Corbelli, Francesca Iaria from the AiCS National Figure Skating Commission, and all the dedicated staff who ensured a smooth and successful meeting.
The MESIS project is a significant initiative under Erasmus+ aimed at fostering LGBTI-inclusive sport communities through the development of innovative educational tools and practices. By leveraging the successes of previous projects like Outsport, MESIS is committed to enhancing the skills of educators and sports professionals, creating accessible e-learning resources, and establishing robust local partnerships. With its focus on capacity building, strategic local implementation, and the dissemination of best practices, MESIS is poised to make a lasting impact on the inclusivity of sports environments across Europe. Stay tuned for the upcoming launch of the e-learning course and the exciting pilot events planned for 2025.
PARTNERS
- ASSOCIAZIONE ITALIANA CULTURA SPORT - ITALIAN ASSOCIATION FOR
CULTURE AND SPORT - AICS (Italy) National Sport Organisation
- EUROPEAN GAY AND LESBIAN SPORT FEDERATION - EGSLF (The
Netherlands) Umbrella Sport organisation
- RESURSEN TSENTSAR BILITIS - BILITIS RESOURCE CENTER FOUNDATION
- BILITIS (Bulgaria)
Foundation
- SPORTNO DRUSTVO - OUT IN SLOVENIJA - OIS (Slovenia)
LGBTI Sport club
- GINASIO CLUBE PORTUGUES - CLUBE PORTUGUESE GYM - GCP (Portugal)
Sport Club
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