ZAEV Sports & Recreation Program 24-25
6 April - International Day of Sport for Development and Peace
The celebration of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on 6 April, declared by the United Nations General Assembly, will be followed by a marathon to promote peace through sport. All participants will be dressed in white T-shirts, and they will complete the planned trajectory by showing a white card – as a symbol of peace. With this symbolic moment, the participants will send a strong message for the protection of peace, common values and the protection of fundamental freedoms and rights, understood by all citizens around the world, especially because of the recent turn of events in Ukraine.
3 June - World Bicycle Day
Celebrating World Bicycle Day on 3 June, declared by the United Nations General Assembly to stimulate cycling as a source of social, economic and health benefits that bring people together. It will be marked by the organization of “Bike Week”, which will aim to stimulate increased awareness among citizens to use more and more non-polluting means of transport such as bicycles. This “Bike Week” will also mark the Ride4Women initiative, launched by several European doctors to raise awareness of the importance of preventing and early diagnosing cervical cancer by cycling long distances.
10 September - World Suicide Prevention Day
Having in mind that sport has a very important role in encouraging social interactivity and in building open communities, activities will be undertaken that will create sports habits among young people through discipline and teamwork. Through sports, young people will learn to create new networks of acquaintances with their peers from the region, in the spirit of healthy sports habits and acceptance of diversity, tolerance, respect for competition, competitive spirit and teamwork. These activities will be realized in honour of the celebration of World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September.
The activities will be realized through the following initiatives:
Inclusive Sports Events
- Unified Sports Tournaments: Host tournaments where teams are composed of individuals with and without disabilities, promoting inclusion and teamwork where these could include popular sports like soccer, basketball and volleyball, with adapted rules to ensure everyone can participate.
- Family Sports Festivals: Organize festivals that offer a variety of sports and recreational activities for families, including obstacle courses, relay races, and fun games that cater to all ages and abilities, while providing prizes and certificates for participation to encourage widespread involvement.
- Cultural Sports Exchange: Create events that introduce participants to traditional sports from different cultures, promoting cultural understanding and diversity.
Inclusive Sports Events
- Cycling for Charity: Host charity bike rides where participants raise funds for local non-profits, encouraging participants to form teams and compete to raise the most money, with prizes for top fundraisers.
- Bike-to-School Programs: Develop programs that encourage students to bike to school, providing incentives such as bike raffles and safety gear, while collaborating with schools to incorporate bike safety education into the curriculum.
- Mental Health Awareness Runs/Walks: Host runs or walks dedicated to raising awareness about suicide prevention, including mental health resources and support services at the event.
- Resilience Building Programs: Develop programs that focus on building mental resilience through sports, including challenges that encourage participants to push their limits, set personal goals and reflect on their achievements.
- Mental Health First Aid Training: Offer training sessions in mental health first aid alongside sports events, teaching participants how to recognize signs of mental distress and how to provide initial support to those in need.
