In May 2026, EASE travelled to Greece for a series of exchanges dedicated to inclusion, grassroots sport, employment, skills and the structuring of the sport sector.

The visit started in Thessaloniki, in the framework of the “A Ball For All” initiative, before continuing in Athens with several meetings involving key stakeholders from the Greek sport ecosystem.

This Greek mission represented an important opportunity for EASE to connect European priorities with national realities, to promote inclusion through sport, and to explore new cooperation opportunities with Greek organisations.

Promoting Inclusion Through Sport in Thessaloniki

EASE began its Greek journey in Thessaloniki by taking part in the “A Ball For All” campaign, led by GRiiiS, formerly Youthorama NGO.

This initiative is a powerful example of how a simple and concrete idea can make sport more inclusive. GRiiiS has developed a lightweight football with bells inside, designed for blind and visually impaired children. Since the children cannot see the ball but can hear it, they are able to play, interact and take part in football activities more easily.

The ball is not sold commercially. It is donated to blind and visually impaired children, schools and organisations, making the initiative particularly meaningful from a social and grassroots perspective.

For EASE, this project fully reflects the importance of making sport more accessible, inclusive and connected to real social needs. It also shows how grassroots initiatives can produce concrete impact when they are built around inclusion, accessibility and participation.

Sharing EASE’s Work on Inclusion with European Delegations

As part of the event in Thessaloniki, EASE had the opportunity to present its work on inclusion in sport in front of around 30 European delegations.

During this session, EASE shared key outcomes from the BeST Inclusion project, with a particular focus on recommendations aimed at strengthening the inclusion of people with disabilities across the sport sector.

The presentation addressed several key challenges, including access to employment, inclusive working conditions, equal opportunities and the role that sport employers and organisations can play in creating more accessible environments.

Beyond the presentation itself, the exchanges with participants from across Europe were extremely valuable. They confirmed a strong shared commitment to making sport more inclusive at all levels, from grassroots participation to employment and organisational practices.

The event ended with inspiring speeches from young people directly concerned by these challenges. Their testimonies gave a human dimension to the discussions and reminded all participants that inclusion in sport is not only a policy objective, but also a concrete and deeply human priority.

EASE warmly thanks the “A Ball For All” team and Elias Mastoras for the invitation and for organising such a meaningful initiative.

Engaging with the Greek Sport Ecosystem in Athens

Following the Thessaloniki event, EASE continued its Greek mission in Athens with a series of strategic meetings involving key actors from the national sport landscape.

These meetings allowed EASE to better understand the structure, priorities and challenges of the Greek sport sector, while identifying concrete opportunities for future cooperation at both national and European levels.

EASE had the pleasure of meeting with:

  • George Mavrotas, Secretary General of Sports at the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports;
  • Tommy Tokas, Chairman of the Olympic Torch Relay Commission at the Hellenic Olympic Committee;
  • George Kavathas, President of the Small Enterprises’ Institute of the Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen and Merchants;
  • Doros Kleovoulou, President of the Panhellenic Union of Gymnasium Owners.

These exchanges were highly constructive and provided valuable insights into the Greek sport ecosystem, including the role of public authorities, the Olympic movement, employers’ organisations and fitness-related structures.

Building Bridges Between Greece and European Sport Initiatives

Throughout the Athens meetings, EASE presented its role at European level, its mission as a representative organisation for sport employers, and its ongoing work on inclusion, employment, skills and social dialogue in sport.

The discussions showed that many of EASE’s priorities resonate strongly within the Greek context. In particular, the exchanges highlighted the importance of better structuring the sport sector, strengthening cooperation between national stakeholders, and connecting Greek sport organisations with European initiatives.

The meetings also opened promising avenues for dialogue around the representation of sport employers, the professionalisation of the sector and the potential creation of stronger links between sport structures and broader employer organisations in Greece.

For EASE, these discussions confirmed the importance of engaging directly with national ecosystems. European sport policy can only be meaningful if it is connected to the realities of clubs, federations, employers, coaches, workers and grassroots organisations in each country.

A Valuable Step in EASE’s European Outreach

This mission to Greece was an important step in EASE’s broader European outreach strategy.

From Thessaloniki to Athens, the visit showed the diversity and richness of the Greek sport ecosystem. It also confirmed that Greece has an important role to play in European discussions on inclusion, employment, skills and the future of sport.

By taking part in the “A Ball For All” initiative, EASE was able to highlight the importance of inclusion and accessibility through concrete grassroots action. By meeting institutional and economic stakeholders in Athens, EASE also strengthened its understanding of the Greek sport landscape and opened new perspectives for cooperation.

EASE would like to thank all the organisations and representatives met during this visit for their warm welcome, openness and willingness to exchange.

The Greek mission confirmed one of EASE’s core convictions: building the future of European sport requires strong bridges between national realities and European cooperation.

EASE looks forward to continuing the dialogue with Greek stakeholders and exploring concrete opportunities for collaboration in the near future.