As part of the European Week of Sport, ACTIVE Austria organized the SportWay event on Friday, 26 September, at Posthalle Wien in the 17th district. Starting at 9:00 a.m., the hall welcomed around 300 participants, including approximately 250 children from seven local schools in Vienna as well as groups from three institutions working with children and people with disabilities.
The morning program offered a wide range of sporting activities, with 12 workshops introducing children to different disciplines. From karate (Shōtōkan Karate-Dō Wien), artistic gymnastics (Jöös Gymnastics), and cheerleading to coordination and movement games (Kids in Motion), Tabata (Champions Factory), and dance, the program gave participants the chance to try something new. Several activities were designed with a strong inclusive component, such as boccia, (Österreichischer Behindertensportverband), sitting volleyball, blind football, and a blind obstacle course. A first-aid workshop organsined by the youth section of the Red Cross (Wiener Jugendrotkreutz) complemented the program by giving children practical knowledge beyond the sports field.
Two fair play tournaments formed the competitive highlight of the day. With the support of Vienna United Basketball Club and Sokol Volleyball Club, children played basketball and volleyball in an environment where tolerance, respect, and teamwork were just as important as winning points. The scoring system rewarded fair play, giving young athletes an opportunity to experience sportsmanship as a central value rather than just an abstract principle.
After the activities with the children, the program continued with a conference that brought together volunteers, local and international partners, and stakeholders. Coordinated by ACTIVE Austria, the conference provided space to present the SportWay project, share information about other inclusive initiatives, and showcase partner activities previously held in Italy and Slovenia. The day also included a roundtable discussion with local representatives: Christian Schüchner from Vienna United Basketball, the Director of International Affairs at Zero Project Robim Tim Weis, Brigitte Hirschegger representing Kids in Motion organisation, and Jakob Schott from Play Together Now organisation. These speakers shared perspectives on Inclusive Sports in Practice, specifically scaling, innovating, and adapting to local needs. A buffet lunch and networking session followed, giving participants space to exchange ideas in a more informal setting.
The Role of Volunteers
A key factor behind the success of the Vienna event was the commitment of volunteers. Support came from international volunteers from Croatia (Planinarsko društvo Tuhobić), Bulgaria (Champions Factory), and Spain (EuroMuévete), from official project partners (Special Education Centre Janez Levec from Slovenia and Ex Allievi Cavanis from Italy), and from local young people and students in Vienna. They contributed to every stage of the event—preparations, implementation, and follow-up—and embodied the importance of volunteering as one of SportWay’s central pillars.
The three pillars of the project—inclusion, volunteering, and fair play—were reflected throughout the day. All activities were designed with a focus on accessibility, ensuring that every child could participate regardless of ability or background. Volunteering was both a principle and a practice, with dozens of helpers giving their time and energy. And fair play was emphasized not only in the tournaments but also as a guiding value across the event.
The event also gained visibility through national media, with ORF reporting from the venue, and was supported by sponsors Ströck Bakery and Vitamin Well, whose contributions added to the overall success.
In bringing together schools, sports clubs, institutions, and volunteers, the SportWay event in Vienna—organized by ACTIVE Austria—showed how inclusive grassroots sport can create meaningful connections. For children, it was a day of play, discovery, and cooperation; for the wider community, it was a demonstration of how inclusion and fair play can become lived experiences through sport.
