ALLSTARS – Good Practice for Active Lifestyles in Local Sports Policies

The project is driven by the well-documented shortcomings of existing sports policy with regard to sport for all and participation in sport. The mainstream of existing sports policy within the European model of organised sport is quite successful in engaging the affluent, healthy, young, non-migrant, male members of society, but it struggles, to varying degrees, to reach the less affluent, physically disabled, older, migrant or non-male members of society. The key to improving this situation lies in a better understanding of how to develop and implement measures targeted at the segments of society that are generally less well organised. The aim of the project is to identify and analyse successful local sport policies designed to increase participation in sport. This refers to projects and programmes at local level that are specifically geared towards greater integration and participation of the generally less organised, marginalised sections of society in the practice and management of sport. The project aims to improve participation in sport amongst those social groups that are normally under-represented or excluded. By identifying and understanding best practices for the integration, inclusion and participation of all sections of society, particularly marginalised groups, the project aims to foster a better understanding of – and raise awareness of – the procedural and institutional dimensions of such policies and programmes. The project is based on the premise that the local level – towns and local authorities – is the key to bringing about improvements.

It is here that new and innovative approaches have been developed, and this is where participation takes place in a tangible sense. By combining best practice, institutional change and the analysis of local networks, the project has been able to highlight new and successful approaches to the processes and content of local sports policy and administration.

Project duration: 1 February 2024 – 31 January 2026

The research findings, reports and detailed information on the methodology, as well as the handbook on “How to implement good practice in and through sport”, can be found on the website
https://allstars.dshs-koeln.de/.