The European project Sporting Unity: Overcoming Colonial Legacies through Olympic Education was officially launched in Accra, Ghana, with the presence of organisations from seven countries: Italy, Portugal, Cape Verde, Senegal, Ghana, South Africa and Greece, on 1 and 2 May 2025. The Association of Portuguese-speaking Olympic Committees represented Portugal, where its headquarters are located, through its president, Filomena Fortes, vice-president, João Costa Alegre and communications manager, Susana Duarte. Funded by the Erasmus+ Virtual Exchanges programme, the project aims to promote critical thinking and intercultural dialogue among young people aged 16 to 20 about the colonial heritage present in sport and Olympic education. Through virtual activities, training and innovative digital content, Sporting Unity aims to involve more than 1,100 young people in transformative educational experiences.
During the kick-off meeting, the main axes of the project were presented: research into colonial practices in sport, the development of digital tools, the training of facilitators and the implementation of virtual exchanges. The meeting also included cultural visits and collaborative work sessions between the partner organisations.
Running for three years, Sporting Unity is part of a global movement that recognises the power of sport to combat racism, promote Olympic values and build more inclusive societies that are aware of their past.