The second international meeting of the Erasmus+ SANE project brought together partners and ambassadors for three days of training and cooperation. ACES will host the project’s final conference in Brussels in December 2027.

Barcelona hosted the second International Meeting and Ambassador Training of the Erasmus+ SANE Project — Sport Ambassadors Network for Europe — from 3 to 5 September, bringing together representatives of five European organisations to strengthen the role of sport in building more inclusive communities.

Led by the Jorge Pina Association, the project is developing a European network of sport ambassadors committed to promoting inclusion, equality and community engagement. The Barcelona meeting combined project coordination with practical training, focusing on leadership skills and strategies to translate these objectives into local action.

The programme included workshops, collaborative sessions and a study visit to the Nereida Project, where participants explored practices linking sport, health and social intervention. The visit provided a practical perspective on how sport can support people and communities beyond traditional sporting settings.

Local experience at the heart of the ACES delegation

ACES participated with three of its ten SANE ambassadors, bringing experience from territories recognised for their commitment to sport and physical activity:

Szilvia Bonyhadi, representing Veszprém-Balaton, Hungary, European Region of Sport 2026.
Marta Niewcasz, representing Rzeszów, Poland, European City of Sport 2026.
Hans Derks, representing the Province of Drenthe, the Netherlands, European Community of Sport 2019.

They were joined by Alessio Di Maio, ACES Project Manager for SANE; Jesús Tortosa, Honorary SANE Ambassador and Councillor for Sport in Alcobendas, Spain, European City of Sport 2025; and Joan Anton Camunas, ACES Delegate for Catalonia.

The delegation connected the project’s European objectives with the experience of municipalities and regions, contributing perspectives on how ambassadors can encourage participation and strengthen inclusion within their communities.

Five organisations working towards a shared goal

The SANE consortium brings together the Jorge Pina Association from Portugal, Agenția Națională pentru Sport from Romania, Unió de Federacions Esportives de Catalunya from Spain, ACES from Belgium and the European Paralympic Committee from Austria.

Through training and the exchange of good practices, the partners aim to equip ambassadors with the skills and connections needed to use sport as a tool for meaningful social change.

ACES will host the SANE Final Conference in Brussels in December 2027, providing an opportunity to share the project’s results and explore how the network can continue supporting inclusive, active and connected communities across Europe.