Representatives of the STAY! project gathered in Brussels to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the European Multisport Club Association (EMCA), one of the key partners in the project. The anniversary event, held on 28–29 May 2025, brought together dozens of multisport organisations, EU project coordinators, and decision-makers from the world of sport.
As one of the active Erasmus+ Sport projects coordinated by an EMCA member, the STAY! project was featured during the event as an example of how sport organisations can work together to tackle the growing issue of youth dropout in sport. The consortium took the opportunity to share insights from pilot actions implemented across Europe and to highlight how local programmes – from tutoring and social events to educational workshops – can help young athletes remain engaged in sport throughout adolescence.
Participants were particularly interested in the practical aspects of the STAY! methodology, including how sports organisations, coaches, and parents can collaborate to create supportive environments for youth development – both in and out of the sports field.
The event also provided an opportunity for project partners to connect with other initiatives working on inclusion, education, and participation in grassroots sport. These exchanges will help shape the final stages of the STAY! project, especially the Good Practices and Policy Recommendations Report due later this year.
The STAY! project is co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ programme and brings together partners from seven countries to address early dropout in sport and promote long-term athlete engagement.
