The transnational meeting for the PLAYFUL AGEING project was successfully held from December 26 to December 28, 2023, in Poreč, Croatia, hosted by ŽKK Požega. Representatives from all project partners gathered to finalize the project’s event manual, participate in a study visit to an international grassroots basketball tournament for youth, and conduct a workshop on applying the PLAYFUL AGEING principles in local settings.
The hosts opened the meeting with a warm welcome, followed by the project manager’s presentation of the agenda. This introduction provided an overview of the meeting’s goals, including the completion of the event manual and key activities planned for the coming days. The first session was dedicated to reviewing the work completed on the PLAYFUL AGEING project to date. Each partner organization presented their national activities, sharing the progress made, challenges encountered, and solutions implemented. This exchange of experiences provided valuable insights into the various contexts in which the project is being applied. After a coffee break, the group engaged in a collaborative session focused on finalizing the event manual. Contributions from all partners ensured the manual accurately reflected the collective knowledge and experience of the group. On the second day, the morning session focused on completing the final sections of the event manual. After lunch, the group embarked on a study visit to an international grassroots basketball tournament for youth. The visit offered participants the opportunity to observe the tournament’s registration process and assist with administrative tasks, providing practical insights into the organization of grassroots sports events.
Following a brief coffee break, the group reconvened for the PLAYFUL AGEING workshop. This session was specifically designed for staff and volunteers from local sports clubs, offering practical guidance on implementing the project’s principles in various community settings. The workshop was well-received, with participants actively engaging in discussions and sharing ideas on how to apply the concepts in their respective regions.
The final day of the meeting commenced in the morning with a continuation of the study visit to the grassroots basketball tournament. Participants took on hands-on roles in assisting with organizational tasks on game day, gaining valuable experience in managing youth sports events. This practical involvement offered a deeper understanding of how such events can be organized effectively.
The transnational meeting for the PLAYFUL AGEING project achieved its primary objectives: finalizing the event manual, successfully conducting a study visit to a youth basketball tournament, and delivering a well-received workshop on the project’s principles. The collaborative atmosphere fostered by the project partners ensured the success of the meeting, and clear next steps for the project were outlined. Participants left with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to implementing the project’s objectives in their respective communities.