Location and general information
Access to Sport - 
Children with disabilitiesContext
In Russia, people with Down syndrome still face many barriers to their integration into society. It is widely recognised that sport assists social integration because it develops physical and mental abilities and improves emotional and psychological well-being. However, there are still not enough classes, clubs, coaches, methods or facilities to enable children with intellectual disabilities in Russia to participate in sports.
Project content
This project is a continuation of the 2021 project supported by the UEFA Foundation for Children. Regular football training sessions are planned for 200 children and teenagers with Down syndrome aged 7 to 18, as well as a training camp and the third interregional football competition. The Syndrome of Love foundation plans to help four regional non-profit organisations set up football training groups for children with Down syndrome. One of the long-term objectives is to set up a national football team for people with Down syndrome to compete internationally.
Objectives
- Involve children and teenagers with Down syndrome in regular football training in five regions of Russia (including Moscow);
- Help four regional non-profits set up football training for children with Down syndrome;
- Improve the skills and qualifications of coaches and physical education teachers working with children with Down syndrome;
- Demonstrate the ability of people with Down syndrome to participate in sports by creating a friendly and tolerant environment where equal rights and opportunities are supported;
- Inform parents, coaches and university students about the importance of sports activities for children and teenagers with Down syndrome.
Project activities
- Regular football training sessions for children and teenagers with Down syndrome;
- Competitive selection of non-profits to receive funding to set up football training groups for children with Down syndrome;
- Skills improvement course for coaches in adaptive physical education and organising mini-football training for children with Down syndrome;
- Seminar for more experienced coaches;
- Training camp for children with Down syndrome based at a sports camp in the Moscow region;
- Third interregional football competition for children and teenagers with Down syndrome;
- Information campaign on developing opportunities in sports for people with Down syndrome;
- Information campaign for parents to involve as many girls as possible in sports.
Expected results
- Six football groups for children with Down syndrome in Moscow and the other regions;
- 200 children regularly playing football in groups;
- 26–50% of participants involved in the project are girls;
- 600 football training sessions for children with Down syndrome;
- 10 coaches completed the skills improvement course;
- 200 participants (including children, accompanying persons, coaches and organisers) in the third interregional football competition for children and teenagers with Down syndrome;
- 200 participants in the training camp (including children, accompanying persons, coaches and organisers);
- 1,000,000 people reached by the information campaign.
Partner
