YeW transnational meeting in Rome: training, workshops and intergenerational sport activities

In April 2026, the YeW partners met in Rome for the project’s Transnational Meeting, an important five-day event dedicated to training, practical workshops, material development and future planning.

The meeting had a clear operational objective: to carry out the planned training and project activities connected to the first two specific objectives of YeW, while also strengthening collaboration among the partner organisations. During the week, participants worked together on the role of sport in active ageing, the development of practical exercises for older adults, the creation of communication materials and the design of intergenerational sport activities.

The first day was dedicated to introduction and training. After the welcome session and the presentation of the weekly agenda, participants took part in a training session focused on the importance of sport for older adults. The discussion explored how regular physical activity can support health, autonomy, emotional balance and social inclusion in later life. Partners also analysed data and statistics related to the condition of older adults in Europe, reflecting on the challenges faced by ageing populations and the role that sport organisations can play in responding to them.

In the afternoon, the group participated in an interactive brainstorming session on the main challenges and opportunities connected to sport for older adults. This activity allowed participants to share experiences from their own countries and organisations, identifying common needs such as accessibility, motivation, social isolation, adapted physical activities and the importance of creating welcoming environments.

The second day focused on workshops and specific laboratories. Partners worked on physical exercises that can be adapted for home practice, with the aim of developing simple and accessible activities that older adults can perform safely. This approach is particularly important because not all older people have regular access to sport facilities, and home-based exercises can represent a useful way to encourage continuity and autonomy.

Later, the participants worked on the development of graphic materials to promote the benefits of sport for older adults. These materials are intended to support awareness-raising and dissemination activities, helping sport organisations communicate the value of physical activity in a clear, accessible and engaging way.

The third day was dedicated to activities connected to the second specific objective of the project: promoting intergenerational sport experiences. Partners took part in a laboratory focused on the creation of a recreational sport activity for grandparents and grandchildren, inspired by taekwondo exercises. This activity was designed to show how martial arts movements can be adapted into playful, safe and inclusive formats, encouraging cooperation between different generations.

The practical implementation of the intergenerational activities allowed participants to test the proposed exercises, observe group dynamics and collect feedback. The evaluation session helped identify strengths, possible improvements and ways to adapt the activities to different local contexts.

The fourth day focused on the creation of YeW tutorial videos. Partners worked together on the preparation and recording of multimedia content, including videos and graphic materials. These tutorials are expected to become practical tools for sport organisations, trainers and community workers interested in promoting physical activity among older adults and intergenerational groups.

The final day was dedicated to analysing the materials produced during the meeting and planning the next steps. Partners reviewed the outputs created during the week, discussed the organisation of future local meetings and defined the dissemination activities to be implemented in each country. The meeting ended with a feedback and evaluation session, followed by final greetings.

The Rome Transnational Meeting represented a central moment in the development of YeW. It combined theoretical reflection, practical experimentation and collaborative production of materials. Most importantly, it allowed partners to transform the project’s objectives into concrete tools and activities that can support older adults, families and sport organisations across Europe.

Through this meeting, YeW strengthened its European cooperation and took an important step toward its mission: promoting sport as a space for health, inclusion and connection between generations.