The selected initiatives span across Lebanon, Germany, Cyprus and Greece, and embody the two priority themes of the grant: “Bridging Communities”, which emphasises the role of cities in driving inclusion; and “Sport Against Hate”, addressing discrimination, misinformation and hate speech through sport. All four initiatives involve new partnerships with members of the Sport for Refugees Coalition, ensure meaningful refugee participation, and demonstrate scalable potential.
After a competitive selection process featuring a panel of reviewers with lived experience of displacement, the following initiatives have been granted the opportunity to implement their projects from September 2025 to August 2026:
Lebanon: Inclusive wheelchair basketball in refugee camps
PACES Charity and Threads of Peace, supported by Choose Love, will implement a wheelchair basketball and peacebuilding initiative that aims to reduce discrimination against children with disabilities in two Palestinian refugee camps, Beddawi and Nahr el Bared, northern Lebanon. The project addresses the lack of inclusive sport for young people with disabilities and the stigma they face within their communities. Participants will benefit from structured sports sessions that aim to build confidence, while parents will be supported in developing their skills to create peacebuilding initiatives that promote the acceptance of their children in society.
Greece: Inclusion through yoga, fitness and skateboarding
Yoga & Sport with Refugees (YSR) and Free Movement Skateboarding (FMS) are collaborating to deliver inclusive sports sessions in Athens, Greece. In response to a rise in xenophobia and anti-migrant sentiment in recent years, this project brings together refugees and local communities through sports sessions and community events.
Activities combine yoga, fitness and skateboarding in public spaces in Athens to reduce isolation and empower refugee coaches through skill-building and leadership pathways. The initiative also includes training for YSR staff in skate coaching and the development of a methodology for refugee-led programme delivery.