From August 27 to 30, 2026, Sports4Fun engaged with the public at the 54th Gorizia World Folklore Festival, bringing four days dedicated to movement, well-being, inclusion, and participation to the heart of the city. In collaboration with ETNOS, ISIG created a space where residents, visitors, and local organizations could learn about the project and try out some of the activities developed over the course of its two-year run.
Participation in the Festival marked an important milestone in the work carried out by ISIG in the region in collaboration with UISP Gorizia, ANDOS – Gorizia Committee, and C Wonder. These organizations were involved in co-designing and testing community-oriented activities, helping to develop experiences and materials focused on accessibility and inclusion that can be adapted for people of different ages, interests, and abilities.
From the Project to the Plaza
Throughout the Festival, Sports4Fun had a booth in Piazza della Vittoria dedicated to showcasing the project and the activities it has carried out. The booth allowed the public to learn about the themes of Sports4Fun through play and movement, with simple activities designed to engage children, families, and visitors.
A specific section was dedicated to gentle exercise, featuring an informational guide consisting of exercises and tips designed specifically for older adults or those with limited mobility. This is a practical way to demonstrate how physical activity can be adapted to different needs and become part of daily life.
Sports4Fun was created with the goal of promoting healthy lifestyles through an inclusive and participatory approach to physical activity. The project, co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Sport program, involves four European partners and develops activities, workshops, and models designed to encourage broad participation in sports, with a particular focus on people who may face greater barriers to accessing physical activity.
Music and Movement at the Public Gardens
The highlight of the event took place on Sunday, August 30, at the Public Gardens on Corso Verdi, where ISIG set up an interactive booth to showcase Sports4Fun through hands-on experiences.
The morning combined the project’s activities with the Festival’s program and a performance by the Eisenbahner Stadtkapelle Lienz. During the musical interludes, UISP Gorizia engaged the audience in physical and participatory activities; ANDOS – Gorizia Committee offered a session dedicated to gentle exercise; and C Wonder led an activity inspired by movement and musicals, aimed at children and teens.
ISIG coordinated the initiative and the various proposals, creating a space where the public could not only learn about the project but also meet directly with the organizations that contributed to its pilot implementation in the area.
The event brought together members of the participating organizations, local residents, visitors, and Festival attendees, transforming the activities into a concrete opportunity to experience one of the core principles of Sports4Fun: making physical activity accessible and engaging, taking it beyond traditional sports settings and using it as an opportunity for social connection and shared well-being.
A Charter of Principles to Ensure Continuity in the Process
The final day also provided an opportunity to present the Sports4Fun Charter of Principles, developed to bring together and ensure the continuity of the values that have guided the process we have undertaken together with local organizations.
Physical activity and healthy lifestyles, inclusion and accessibility, respect for differences, collaboration and fair play, individual and social well-being, and participation in community life are the guiding principles of the Charter and summarize the approach tested during the project.
View the Sports4Fun Charter of Principles
Participation in the Festival thus made it possible to bring these principles back into the public sphere and share them directly with the community, bringing the local initiative to a close in the same way that had characterized its development: through movement, experimentation, and participation.
🔗 More information and resources about the project are available on the official Sports4Fun website.
