Project "Let's pull together"

(calls for proposals 2012 - Trans-frontier joint grassroots sport competitions
in neighboring regions and Member States. – EAC – 2012 – 0559)

The main objective of the programme, which was prepared actions in the field of sport for the programme 'Erasmus for All', project 'Let's Pull together' organizers identified three problems:

• Insufficient use of Tug of War sport as a vehicle for informal education for youth
• Insufficient use of Tug of War sport as a vehicle for promoting tolerance and transnational understanding between youth of different backgrounds
• Lack of exchange of best practice examples and experiences of Tug of War sport between countries

Thus the project organizers as its general objective was set out an aim to promote sport of Tug of War as a vehicle for professional and personal growth, social inclusion and transcultural understanding between youth of different background. Participants of the project was young people from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland and Hungary.
International group of experts provided the content of the seminars and workshops and shared their knowledge and skills train volunteers.

Project seminars content provided an opportunity for - volunteers to gain management, organizational, referee skills using informal education, and make them promoters of tolerance and social inclusion.
International experts group makes it possible:

To develop the personality of professionalism,
Foster cross-cultural understanding, tolerance and respect between youth of different backgrounds
Exchange good practice examples between Tug of War organizations
Project built a sustainable network of Tug of War organizations and federations which using good practice examples and transferred knowledge; trained new youth volunteers, organizers and referees giving them practical knowledge.

Tug of War sport does not require many funds. It is a sport that always attracts the viewer, and it is a sport that uses in the team building" events, it is a main event during sports festival, it is a sport that attracts people and a young people's as well as high level sport Tug of War sport teaches tolerance and understanding, friendship un fire play.

Project international experts group during the meetings found that all countries have a similar problem's and find our proposals to the national sports policy makers:

1. Governments and local authorities need to be more open to non-Olympic federations
2. Build a national law so to make it easier to recognize the non-formal education program (of local sports competitions in - instructor level)
3. International Federation increased support to the new federations – more assist Tug of War marketing.
4. Sports organizations need to support cross-border exchanges of experiences that contribute to develop sport and quality educational programs for volunteers, judges and coaches.

Conference participants "Let's pull together"
Riga, May 3rd, 2014