G.E.O.S. Project Officially Launched: First Online Partnership Meeting
The G.E.O.S. – Gender Equal Opportunities in Sports project has officially kicked off with its first online partnership meeting, marking the beginning of a 24-month journey under the Erasmus+ Sport programme.
On 12 February 2026, representatives from the four partner organisations met online to launch the project, align expectations, and set the foundations for a collaborative European partnership. The atmosphere was constructive and forward-looking, as partners aligned their vision, confirmed responsibilities and laid the groundwork for the activities that will unfold over the next two years.
More than just a formal launch, the meeting represented a concrete commitment to work together towards structural and lasting change in sport organisations across Europe.
What will happen over the next 24 months?
G.E.O.S. was created in response to a clear challenge: although gender equality is widely recognised as a core value in sport, it is still not structurally embedded in many organisations. Policies and statements of intent often exist, but there remains a significant gap between commitment and implementation.
The project aims to move from words to action by providing sports organisations with practical tools, training and long-term support to integrate gender equality into their leadership, governance and daily activities.
G.E.O.S. focuses on two main priorities:
Strengthening leadership and capacity for gender equality
Sports professionals, decision-makers, coaches, managers and volunteers will take part in a hybrid training programme combining in-person sessions and online peer learning. Participating organisations will be supported in developing their own Equality Action Plans, ensuring that learning translates into concrete structural changes.
Building a sustainable and scalable system
To ensure long-term impact beyond the project’s duration, G.E.O.S. will train local trainers in each partner country, create an open-access digital resource hub, engage municipalities through a dedicated webinar, and conclude with a European hybrid final event to share results and policy recommendations.
Throughout the project, partners will work closely together to test, refine and disseminate practical approaches that can be replicated across different sport contexts.
The European partnership
G.E.O.S. is implemented by a committed consortium of organisations from across Europe:
- Finlands Svenska Idrott (Finland) – Coordinator
- University of Malta (Malta) – Partner
- Associação de Futebol de Bragança (Portugal) – Partner
- Centro Universitario Sportivo – CUS Padova (Italy) – Partner
Together, the partners combine expertise in sport governance, grassroots sport development, university research and training, and regional sports management.
Next step: meeting in Helsinki
Following the successful online launch, the partnership will meet in person in Helsinki, Finland, on 16–17 March 2026. This meeting will further strengthen cooperation and officially start the operational phase of the project.
Over the next two years, G.E.O.S. will work to ensure that gender equality in sport becomes not only a principle, but a measurable and lasting reality across organisations and communities.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
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