OTTY, only thanks to you - 1st Transnational meeting in ITALY!

The first Transnational Meeting of the OTTY – Overcoming Temptations Through Youthwork project took place in Rome, Italy, marking the official start of an ambitious European journey to prevent doping among young athletes through education, awareness, and youth work.

Hosted by the coordinating organisation A.S.D. Gorilla, the meeting gathered twelve participants from the three partner countries — Italy, Portugal, and Romania — representing coaches, youth workers, and sport educators.For three days, the group worked together to explore the roots of doping, understand its psychological and social causes, and define how sport can become a safe, inclusive, and educational space for all young people.

A shared vision: sport as an educational tool

From the very beginning, OTTY has been more than a project about sport — it is a project about people.Through non-formal learning methods, the Italian meeting created a space for reflection, creativity, and dialogue. Participants discussed the pressures faced by young athletes, the role of families, peers, and media, and how youth workers can act as positive role models to guide teenagers toward healthier choices.

The programme included three workshops that shaped the foundation of the OTTY Method:

• Workshop 1: Doping and Adolescence in Europe – analysing how cultural, economic, and social factors affect young athletes’ attitudes towards performance and competition.

• Workshop 2: The Risk Factors – identifying the key vulnerabilities that can lead to doping behaviour and exploring how education can address them.

• Workshop 3: Advocacy Campaign (Video) – participants co-created awareness-raising messages and videos to promote fair play and authenticity in sport.

Creating the OTTY Method

During the meeting, participants and facilitators co-created the first official deliverable of the project:“OTTY Method #1 – Doping, Adolescence, The Three Risk Factors.”This resource represents the starting point of a larger methodological framework that will later include OTTY Method #2 (on the role of the youth worker and rational decision-making) and OTTY Method #3 (on good practices in sport education).Together, these materials aim to equip youth workers and coaches with practical tools to recognise early signs of risky behaviour and to build a culture of prevention through dialogue, trust, and education.

A partnership that inspires

Beyond the workshops, the meeting strengthened the human and professional bonds between the three organisations.The Associação Nacional de Treinadores de Canoagem (Portugal) contributed its expertise on the professional training of coaches, while the Asociația Tinerilor cu Inițiativă Civică (Romania) shared its experience in youth empowerment and community engagement.Together with A.S.D. Gorilla, the partners built a dynamic, cooperative, and inclusive working atmosphere that reflects the very spirit of the Erasmus+ programme.

Looking ahead

The next step for OTTY will be the Second Transnational Meeting in Portugal, scheduled for December, where new workshops and training sessions will further explore the role of youth workers in sport and strategies to promote rational decision-making and ethical behaviour among young athletes.Meanwhile, the partnership will continue to develop and share educational materials through the official webpage:👉 www.oltrenetworklab.com/otty