As part of the Erasmus+ project BONTS (Building Family Bonds Through Sports), we organized a multiplier event on 29th October 2024 at the School Centre in Slovenj Gradec. The event was dedicated to presenting the key achievements of the project, which aims to develop sports activities adapted for all generations. The project encourages family participation in sports, with activities designed to be accessible to both children and grandparents.
The event was attended by sports educators and management staff, who had the opportunity to learn about all the key results of the project. We presented the events organized within the project in all partner countries, which were aimed at families and adapted sports activities for all generations. In addition, we showcased three useful brochures developed as part of the project, offering recommendations and advice on implementing these activities in a family setting.
The multiplier event was an opportunity to present the project’s results and share its achievements. We highlighted the developed materials and activities, which provide participants with useful tools and recommendations that can be incorporated into their work. The event thus contributed to increasing the project’s visibility and its long-term use.
A training activity and a conference took place in Larnaca, Cyprus from 27 to 29 September 2024, under the coordination of Active Zone Outdoor, bringing together 18 youth workers, educators and sport professionals from the partner countries. The whole training activity gave the opportunity to the participants to become aware of the tangible outcomes of the project as well as to gain practical experience and skills in the design and implementation of family oriented sport events.
Aiming at promoting the project in different communities and target groups, the project consortium organised sports activities in different locations in the city and province of Larnaca. A key activity related to the visit at Kamares Primary School, where pupils and parents had the opportunity to participate together in an adaptive beach tennis training session. Through the activity, bonds between family members were strengthened, promoting teamwork and the social nature of sports.
Towards strengthening the social inclusion of people with disabilities, part of the activities were held at the premises of Dikeoma Elpidas Center for People with Disabilities. In particular, adaptive activities such as beach tennis, football, group yoga and seating volleyball were organized, creating a sense of community and social interaction. The Center also hosted the BONTS conference, where educators, parents, adults with disabilities and trainees were informed about the project’s results and discussed ideas towards the adoption and sustainability of the generated outcomes.
Finally, a family adapted orientation activity was organised in the village of Agios Theodoros with the participation of children of different ages and parents. The game was designed to enhance teamwork, communication and cooperation between the members of each family, while providing entertainment and education, allowing the contestants to get to know the main points of interest of the picturesque village.
The final race within the EURIDE project took place at Vista Park in Velenje. We are concluding the project with optimism and a desire for further collaboration with project partners.
PARTICIPATION IN THE PROJECT
Over the past two years, activities related to pedal cars have brought together eight organizations from seven countries: Italy, France, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Turkey, and Slovenia. In 2022, municipalities, high schools, a federation of pedal car clubs, and sports institutions joined forces in the EURIDE project. In Croatia, Slovenia, and Portugal, activities related to pedal cars were previously unfamiliar to us; we only became acquainted with them through the EURIDE project. On the other hand, the EURIDE project involves the French Federation of Pedal Cars, which has over 40 years of experience, a technical high school from Holice, and the municipality of Faenza. All three organizations have extensive experience in manufacturing pedal cars and organizing pedal car races.
HISTORY
It all began in France in the early 1980s. At that time, pedal boat competitions, popular for water racing, were thriving. In 1982, the idea emerged to shift this activity from water to land – to the town of Vimoutiers. This led to the founding of the French Federation of Pedal Cars on April 7, 1982, along with the construction of a pedal car. Shortly after, the organization of the first race commenced on June 26, 1982. By 2015, France boasted two thousand pedal cars.
In the year 2000, the first international race took place in France, with Italians also participating. Three years later, the municipality of Faenza organized the first race on home soil. In Italy, pedal car manufacturing is overseen by students from technical high schools, while race organization falls under the purview of the Faenza municipality, which also serves as the coordinator of the EURIDE project. Similarly, in the Czech Republic, as in Italy, pedal car production is managed by students from the technical high school in Holice.
THE BEGINNINGS OF THE ACTIVITY IN SLOVENIA
The EURIDE project connected us – those with experience and those without. In Slovenia, we immediately saw an opportunity to become part of this story ourselves, so in collaboration with the Ravne High School and the Velenje School Center, we managed to manufacture three pedal cars in just one year. Together with teachers and students from the schools who built the pedal cars, we participated in three races abroad. With the project partners, we also created a manual for organizing pedal car races, a manual for manufacturing pedal cars, and a video tutorial for making pedal cars.
THE RACE IN VELENJE
At Zavod APGA, with the help of Boštjan Hribar and Boštjan Knez, and students volunteers from the School of Mechanical Engineering, Geotechnology and Environment, we organized the final race within the EURIDE project. The final race of this project took place on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Vista Park in Velenje. By ten o’clock, all teams had arrived and set up and decorated their tents. The weather looked promising – cold but sunny. However, at noon, a strong gust of wind blew, even blowing away some lunches. Despite the strong wind and unpredictable weather, we continued with the program. At 2 p.m., all teams presented themselves: Officina Mobile, Car Onte, Skyline, Ferrari, Gli Antenati, and Retro from Italy. Spiderman, Pumba, and Witch from France. Monty Car, a Cow, and Bee Maja from the Czech Republic, and King Matjaž’s carriage and Cole mine vehicle from Slovenia. The audience had the task of rating the presentations from 1 to 10, as creativity in this activity is just as important as speed. After the presentations, Deputy Mayor Janez Melanšek waved the starting flag, and the ninety-minute race began.
Vista Park offers a wonderful viewpoint from the park’s roof, where spectators could watch the entire race. Those who wanted to get closer to the action found space on the benches along the racetrack. The race proceeded smoothly and without any major accidents. This was followed by the trophy presentation. The fastest in the race was the driver of the Spiderman car, while the most creative presentation was by the Retro team. The Witch team secured second place in both creativity and speed, thus winning in the overall standings.
After dinner, a swing dance evening followed, and it was really hard to say goodbye, as this was the last race within the EURIDE project which has been connecting us for the past two years.
On Saturday, April 20th, 2024, the final pedal car race of the EURIDE project will take place. The race will be held at Vista Park in Velenje.
At 2 p.m., all teams will be presented, and at 3 p.m., the Mayor of the City Municipality of Velenje, Peter Dermol, will announce the start of the race, which will last for 120 minutes. The race will feature 14 pedal cars and over 50 competitors from several European countries: France, the Czech Republic, and Italy.
The pedal car race in Velenje will go down in history as the first pedal car race in Slovenia.
As previously reported, within the framework of the EURIDE project, we invited the Šolski center Velenje and the Srednja šola Ravne to collaborate. Under the guidance of teachers, students have built three pedal cars and participated in three races held in 2023 in Italy, the Czech Republic, and France. On Saturday, they will compete in racing for the last time as part of this project and for the first time on home turf.
We are delighted to have the opportunity to participate in the EURIDE project, whose main task is to expand activities related to pedal cars, strengthen organizations already engaged in these activities, and through organizing races, show people, especially young people, that pedal car racing is a fun, health-beneficial activity that offers new knowledge and the opportunity to connect with people across Europe.
King Matjaž – the pedal car crafted at Srednja šola Ravne
The project is coming to a close in May 2024, and we can proudly say that we have achieved all the project’s goals:
Introducing activities related to pedal cars to the broader public
Spreading basic knowledge about the construction of pedal cars
Involving schools in the project, aiming to interest them in building pedal vehicles and participating in races
Offering young people the opportunity to engage in a new activity and encouraging them to participate in organized events in the project’s EU RIDE partner countries
Increasing networking capacities for sports associations involved in the project.
Additionally, you can view the project results or products on the EURIDE website:
Manual for organizing pedal car races
Guide for building pedal cars
Video tutorials for building pedal cars
Development of an international online platform for the European network of pedal cars
In collaboration with the sports club Sele–Vrhe, we organized an event called “Plogging & Jogging,” which combined sports with an environmentally beneficial activity: picking up litter. With proper preparation, we ensured the efficient execution of the event, providing participants with gloves and environmentally friendly waste bags.
We emphasized the importance of combining sports activities with the sustainable goal of preserving a clean environment. Participants engaged in educational discussions on environmental awareness, biodiversity, and Earth conservation.
The discussion laid the groundwork for understanding how small actions by each individual can impact the environment. The connection with the natural element of Earth was crucial as we underscored the responsibility towards our shared home and its preservation. Plogging is not just a sports activity but a powerful message about sustainable responsibility and collective effort for a cleaner planet.
In collaboration with the Istrian Brigade Gračišče Elementary School, we organized a Green Sports Day aimed at raising awareness among students about the importance of environmental conservation. Nine participants took part, properly equipped for a guided walk in nearby natural areas such as forests and riverbanks.
We focused on an educational activity that guided students to contemplate waste separation. Through creative poster-making, students deepened their knowledge of waste separation and gained information on nature conservation that will benefit them in their daily lives.
The “green” school sports day successfully combined outdoor activities with raising awareness about the importance of preserving nature and earth for future generations.
Special emphasis was also placed on sustainability, as participants actively engaged in cleaning the surroundings during sports activities. This practice further reinforced awareness of environmental responsibility and left a lasting positive impact on the school community.
The event marks the beginning of ongoing environmental awareness and sustainable practices within the school community, promising future editions of the “Green” School Sports Day.
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