The DATA (Digital Administrative and Training Assistant) project team recently held a productive progress meeting to assess their advancements and plan the next phase of their digital transformation initiative for the sports sector. Now six months into the project, the team is gaining momentum in delivering impactful solutions for sport organisations across Europe.

Key Highlights from the Meeting

Marcos Lopez Flores opened the session with an overview of the app market analysis. His review highlighted leading digital platforms such as TeamSnap and TeamLinkt, setting a benchmark for the features and functionality the DATA project may consider. In parallel, he presented a preliminary outline for a survey aimed at gathering in-depth insights into user expectations and requirements.

This upcoming survey is targeted at CEOs and senior executives in sport organisations, with data collection scheduled to take place between April and May 2025. The survey is a crucial step in ensuring the solutions being developed are grounded in the real needs of those managing and operating in the sport sector.

Gathering Best Practices and Strategic Input

To supplement the survey findings, the team agreed to begin a screening of best practices and digital strategies using a collaboratively shared spreadsheet. This method will enable the identification of effective approaches already in use, offering a valuable reference as the project continues shaping its own tools and methodologies.

Focus on Multilingual Accessibility

Irene Benito introduced the draft version of the questionnaire, underlining the importance of ensuring multilingual accessibility to maximise participation across diverse geographic regions. Translating the survey into multiple languages will facilitate broader engagement and inclusivity, two pillars of the DATA project's communication strategy.

Looking Ahead: Training Program in Development

One of the long-term objectives of the DATA initiative is the creation of a comprehensive training program tailored to the evolving digital needs of sport professionals. The program is expected to launch by September 2026, in alignment with the overall project timeline.

Immediate Action Points

To maintain momentum, the team outlined several short-term priorities:

• Screen and document best practices and strategies using the provided template.

• Review the draft questionnaire on Google Forms and offer feedback.

• Collect all survey responses by the end of May 2025.

• Finalise the survey structure by the end of April 2025.

As the DATA project progresses, these coordinated efforts are setting the stage for a transformative impact on how sport organisations embrace and implement digital technologies.

The Rijeka Sports Association (Riječki sportski savez) serves as the central coordinating body for sports activities in the city of Rijeka, Croatia. Established under Article 48 of the Croatian Sports Act, the association unites all sports clubs within the city, promoting and developing sports across various disciplines. Its primary responsibilities include coordinating member activities, fostering sports in alignment with the National Sports Development Programme, particularly focusing on children, youth, students, and individuals with disabilities and proposing public sports program co-funding initiatives to the city government and council for adoption.

Rijeka boasts a vibrant sports community, with over 25,000 citizens participating in various sports activities. This includes 17,000 active athletes, comprising both registered competitors and non-registered participants, as well as members of sports and student sports clubs, and athletes with disabilities. These individuals are affiliated with 222 clubs that form part of the Rijeka Sports Federation, encompassing approximately 350 sports teams across 48 different sports activities and disciplines.

The association also emphasises inclusivity through the Para Sports Association of the City of Rijeka, which aims to develop and promote sports among persons with disabilities. This includes organising sporting activities, coordinating program activities, and developing programs for international and regional cooperation.

Through its comprehensive approach, the Rijeka Sports Association plays a pivotal role in fostering a dynamic and inclusive sports environment, contributing to public health, education, and the overall development of society in Rijeka.

The European Judo Union (EJU) was founded on 28th July 1948 in London. It is a non-political and a non-profit organisation, currently established under Austrian Association Law, that represents one of the five continental unions inside the International Judo Federation (IJF). The EJU is composed of 51 Member National Federations or Associations officially recognised through their National Olympic Committees. As a Continental Union inside IJF, the EJU in charge of implementing the policies of the IJF and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and It does not discriminate on the grounds of race, religion, gender or politics.

Judo was created in 1882 by Professor Jigoro Kano. As an educational method derived from the martial arts, judo became an official Olympic sport in 1964. Judo is a highly codified sport in which the mind controls the expression of the body and is a sport which contributes to educating individuals. Beyond competitions and combat, judo involves technical research, practice of Kata, self-defence work, physical preparation, sharpening of spirit. Judo is the way of the highest or most efficient use of both physical and mental energy.

Through training in the attack and defence techniques of judo, the practitioner nurtures their physical and mental strength, and gradually embodies the essence of the Way of Judo. Thus, the ultimate objective of Judo discipline is to be utilized as a means to self-perfection, and thenceforth to make a positive contribution to society. As a discipline derived from ancestral traditions, judo was designed by its Master Founder as an eminently modern and progressive activity.

The Erasmus+ DATA Project – Digital Administrative and Training Assistant invites all club-based organisations to support an important initiative. This initiative seeks to develop a user-friendly digital tool tailored to the everyday needs of sports organisations. The survey, titled “Digital Readiness of Sport Organisations” aims to gather valuable insights into how digital tools are currently being used in sport management and what is needed to support future innovation.

Survey Link: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf7udGmkKtL_ZFcubcUUKlGiFo1F8XIkBMmjBukiPdKwr0hrg/viewform

The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. All responses will remain strictly confidential and will be used solely to inform the research and development process within the DATA project framework.

Your support is instrumental in ensuring that the digital solutions we help to develop are practical, relevant, and beneficial to the wider sporting community.

Sport Innovation Hub is a Start-Up company based in Spain. The company works with a diverse and international team of scientists and engineers. 

Their aim is to develop innovative scientific projects and evidence-based technologies oriented to sport sciences, physical activity for health, and education. The Hub host start-ups in the context of sport & innovation, giving them support, guidance, access to best practices and key stakeholders at European level, funding and more.

Research, Consultancy and Guidance

International experts in Sport Sciences will support, evaluate, pilot or audit your projects from a scientific perspective.

Sport APPs Design and Development

Our development and sport sciences team will work with your institution to transform your ideas into evidence-based technologies.

Internationalisation and Projects

Going international, scaling up your projects and getting international grants for funding the implementation of your projects.

Read more about our partners: https://sportinnovationhub.com 

The Sports Foundation was established, by public deed, on September 26, 1995 by the Portuguese State and, subsequently, had the following founding members - Olympic Committee of Portugal, Confederation of Sports of Portugal, EDP, RTP - Radio and Television of Portugal, Lactogal, Finibanco (Montepio), McCann Erickson Portugal and Câmara Câmara Municipal da Maia. In order to make it known among the general public and attract new partners, several promotion and dissemination actions were developed from the outset to foster the involvement of society and the growth of the institution's assets. A good example of this was the Champions' Gala, organised by the Foundation between 1996 and 2002. The media ceremony of distinction of the heroes of Portuguese sport in national and international competitions was one of the first most prominent events in the national sports sphere and continues to bring together, annually, athletes of all modalities, numerous influential personalities of the medium, media and artists.

However, the first years of life of the Sports Foundation were not a bed of roses. From its implementation, to the granting of the status of public utility, measurement of funds, among other prerogatives, the organisation faced a series of obstacles that hindered it and cost it, not only, the achievement of objectives, but the entire process of affirmation and presence in the market. The Central Society of Beers and Beverages, Galp, Portugal Telecom, among other giants of the Portuguese business fabric were associated with the Foundation as founders and curators, however, the difficulties in bringing it to a successful port persisted to the detriment of the financial crisis then installed. Given this situation, in terms of the activity developed, there was some support for athletes, federations and events, and other more ambitious projects ended up not being realised.

The year 2013 was a turning point for the Sports Foundation, classified as an "institution of private law and public utility", when the census was applied to the foundations it was also in charge of coordinating the national network of High Performance Centers, by Government resolution. This stimulus has expanded the body's field of action and given it a new breath in favour of high-level competition sport.

High Performance Centers represent more than just infrastructures for sports practice. The importance of investing in the re-qualification of CARs is related to a set of valences whose usefulness and benefits revert in favour of athletes and their training and performance conditions, as well as at the level of the local economy, as they foster the dynamics and tourist flow where they are. In this sense, the Foundation created a fund for the optimisation and maintenance of these centers, in order to project them internally and externally. Following the additional burdens delegated to the organisation, the strategic plan carried out by the executive committee boosted the re-erestification of the institution, with particular emphasis on the success of the Internationalization project of the National CAR Network of Portugal, under Portugal 2020.
The Sports Foundation has thus entered a "new era" and will continue to embrace new projects, protocols and partnerships with national and international entities in order to raise Portuguese sport in national territory and beyond borders.

Mission 

The Foundation's corporate purpose is to support the promotion and development of sport, with the Board of Directors providing the greatest breadth of action in all areas of sports activity, from support for events - to be held in the country or abroad - to sports practitioners, to the holding of seminars, conferences and other similar actions aimed at promoting and disseminating Portuguese sport.

Today the Social Purpose of the Sports Foundation is to promote and support the promotion and development of Portuguese sport, namely in the fields of high performance, but also in the areas of education, health, tourism, environment, economy and should contribute to the increase in sports practice among the population.
The Sports Foundation is also responsible for coordinating the network of High Performance Centers (CAR) in Portugal, with the collaboration of an Executive Committee for the Management of the CAR, a body that will consist of representatives of the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth, IP, the Portuguese Olympic Committee, the Portuguese Paralympic Committee, the Portuguese Sports Confederation, the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities and the Business fabric (Founding Members of the Sports Foundation).

In this context, it is up to it to establish the guidelines for the management and operation for each of the CARs, structures that are directed by a CAR Management Commission, composed of a representative of the respective Municipality, the Sports Foundation and the Federation (or Sports Federations) residents, and the financial control system may be supervised by the Municipality or the Foundation.

Moreover, it is up to the Sports Foundation to collaborate at the level of external cooperation (operationalization of bilateral cooperation protocols), in conjunction with the IPDJ, I.P., developing its performance with the different countries of the CPLP (9 countries), the Lusophone space (10 countries), as well as the Ibero-American space (22 countries).

Read more: https://fundacaodesporto.pt 

EUNIK, the European Network for Innovation and Knowledge, is a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing digital transformation, research, and education across Europe. Its mission is to support public and private institutions in enhancing knowledge management, implementing e-learning programmes, and embracing digital innovation to foster a more sustainable future.

EUNIK collaborates with a diverse network of researchers and professionals across various disciplines, including health, education, psychology, and technology. Through initiatives such as the EUNIK Academy, the organisation offers tailored support for launching online courses, developing mobile and web applications, and boosting research productivity. By partnering with EUNIK, institutions can access cutting-edge tools and expertise to drive impactful, collaborative projects aligned with EU priorities.

Website: https://eunik.org