September 2025 with ISG: integration, green standards, and tools for practitioners

ISG 02 October 2025

September at ISG was a month of intense work on many fronts – from local integration programs, through international projects, to the analysis of global trends in sport. It was also a time when we showed how to connect research with practice and how to translate values into tools for municipalities, clubs, and social organizations.

Integration through sport: from data to concrete action

Eurobarometer data shows that 45% of Europeans never exercise, and behind this figure lie economic, health, and social barriers. In September, we demonstrated that these barriers can be overcome when sport becomes a genuine part of local policy.

We highlighted examples of Polish cities that have successfully implemented inclusive solutions:

Głogów – “Neighbourhood Coach”: a stable partnership between the municipality, schools, and the local club enables children to train close to home, free of financial barriers.
Gdańsk – “Ekstra FAN”: sport as a pretext for health and community among overweight adults.
Radom – “Futbol Plus”: a model combining sport, rehabilitation, and education – a section for children with disabilities has grown thanks to the support of a professional club.
Warsaw – “Etnoliga”: for 20 years has shown that football can be a language of dialogue between migrants and the local community.
Wrocław – “Let’s Play Together”: Polish-Ukrainian coaching tandems as a way to support refugee children and integration in schools.

These are not only local stories – they are proof that smart sports programs can become effective tools of social policy.

Sport and the environment: from declarations to practice

September was also marked by projects combining sport with environmental responsibility.

European Forum of Regional Sport (Legionowo) – together with ECOS N2K partners, we discussed the role of municipalities in investing in sport and how to balance outdoor sports with nature protection.
ECOS N2K meeting in Warsaw – together with European partners, we assessed progress and planned the final stages of the project, which will conclude on 31 December. We also discussed how the developed tools can be used in the future.
European trends – we highlighted good practices: electrification of boats in water sports, emission and fuel monitoring, limiting excessive travel, and circular economy models. The conclusion is clear: a sport that does not measure its impact cannot be credible in the climate debate.

International policies and the legacy of sport

September also brought important reports and reflections at the global level:

IOC Report 2021–2024 – showing that the Paris 2024 Games were groundbreaking in reducing emissions (−54% CO₂), achieving gender equality (full parity in competitions), and investing in education and local communities.
European Week of Sport – we reminded that #BeActive is not a slogan but a call for daily activity, integration, and care for health – regardless of age or social status.

National programs and funding for inclusivity

The Ministry of Sport and Tourism announced the program “Promotion of Sport for People with Disabilities 2025” (budget: €3M). This is an important step towards systematically supporting NGOs that build inclusive sport on a daily basis. We provided information about the conditions and deadlines to encourage more organizations to apply for this support.

Knowledge and skills: open resources and innovation

In September, we focused strongly on knowledge sharing:

CSR in sport – thanks to PhD Paweł Zembura, we released Poland’s first open online training materials on implementing CSR in clubs and federations. Check out the course!
Good Governance – we continued developing educational content on transparency, accountability, and participation in sports organizations.
Innovation and AI in sport (SHARE 2.0) – we emphasized that AI can strengthen grassroots (relieving volunteers, supporting coaches) and elite sport (analysis, injury prevention), while also raising ethical challenges.

Young leaders and solidarity

Work with young people remained a priority:

European Solidarity Corps Networking Event (Katowice) – exchanging experiences with other organizations, finding inspiration, and preparing for new calls.
Youth for Sport and Society Leadership Programme – supporting and promoting initiatives of young leaders who want to change sport and local communities.

Social protection for athletes

We continued to communicate the findings of the SOPROS report. In Poland, the system remains fragmented and unequal – soldier-athletes are fully protected, while scholarship athletes are often deprived of basic workers’ rights. In September, we asked directly: can we really build sporting success while ignoring the security of those who make it possible?

ISG community and independence

We want the knowledge we create to return to municipalities, clubs, and NGOs as practical tools – reports, guides, trainings, and recommendations. Thanks to Patronite, we can work faster and more effectively, independent of grants and political decisions. Your support allows us to speak loudly about exclusion, athletes’ rights, and environmental responsibility – and, most importantly, to propose real solutions. Join ISG Patrons and help us shape the sport of tomorrow!

Summary

September has shown that sport can be a bridge connecting different areas of social life – from integration and solidarity, through environmental protection, to skill development and support for young leaders. It is also a reminder that real change starts locally, in clubs, schools, and municipalities, and its strength lies in cooperation and responsibility. At ISG, we believe that a sport based on knowledge, dialogue, and practical solutions can be not only a field of competition but also a tool for building a better society.