PHASE 2
SOUTH-EAST EUROPE 'YOUTH, SPORT, ACTION!' TRAINING
19–21 February 2008, Tirana, Albania

This project aims to maintain and strengthen the cross-regional/UK networks created over the course of the last year (see Phase 1 below). It also aims to deepen cross-cultural learning through a regional training workshop on Sport and InterCultural Dialogue for sports and youth professionals from the region and their UK partners, which aims to help them develop their role as advocates and facilitators in taking forward the Olympic ideals and core values in their countries.

Participants include representatives from local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other key bodies from each country, as well as youth activists involved in activities focusing on citizenship, social inclusion, leadership, sport and education.

The training will be followed by youth activity organised locally by each participating country. Details will be announced in due course. Greece is involved in this project in collaboration with the non-governmental independent youth organisation Kids in Action.

FUTHER INFORMATION
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PHASE 1
'YOUTH, SPORT, ACTION!' PILOT PROGRAMME

In co-operation with the General Sports Secretariat and Brouhaha International (Liverpool, UK), we have delivered the British Council's Youth, Sport, Action! pilot programme in Greece. Its aim was to bring together young people from ten countries in South East Europe and the UK and empower them to manage and operate transnational projects which build on Olympic ideals.

Within this context, the objective of the Greek project was to show how the Olympic ideals can inspire young people and be used as a set of values in their everyday lives. Fair play, cultural exchange, personal excellence, along with diversity, respect and teamwork have a place in our societies – not just in sports. Through a multimedia DVD and live dance performance, the Olympic ideals were promoted as tools for improving individuals and societies.

The Greek team, a multicultural team of university students with their group leaders, Aris Pavlidis and Isigoni Valsamidou, visited Liverpool in August 2007, where they worked together with the UK team from Brouhaha International to finalise preparations for the presentation of the Greek project in Manchester.

All ten countries' projects were presented at the Youth, Sport, Action! youth conference held in Manchester on 30 August 2007.

The UK team was hosted in Thessaloniki from 15–20 October 2007. During the visit the Greek project was presented at the Anatolia College of Thessaloniki, Mantoulidis High School and Kalamari Greek-French High School, thus giving pupils the opportunity to watch the performance and learn more about the project.

The Greek and UK teams then travelled to Athens following an invitation from the General Sports Secretariat. Mr I. Ioannidis, Deputy Minister of Culture with responsibility for sports, and Mr S. Douvis, Secretary General for Sports, met the two teams and praised the result of their efforts. Mr. Ioannidis highlighted the challenge of visualising the Olympic ideals through video and dance and the significance of these values in the lives of young people.

FUTHER INFORMATION
For further information, please contact: