Age

To address global demographic changes  through sport
 

Duration: n. 18 months: 1st September 2025 – 31st March 2027

Location: The project has a National scope and take place in 19 Italian regions, involving 11 cities and their provinces:

1.  ABRUZZO-MOLISE;
2. BASILICATA: Matera;
3. CALABRIA;
4. CAMPANIA;
5. EMILIA ROMAGNA;
6. FRIULI VENZIA GIULIA: Gorizia;
7. LAZIO: Rome;
8. LIGURIA: Genoa;
9. LOMBARDY;
10. MARCHE: Jesi;
11. PIEDMONT: Alessandria;
12. PUGLIA: Taranto;
13. SARDINIA: Sassari;
14. SICILY: Trapani;
15. TUSCANY: Empoli;
16. TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE;
17. UMBRIA;
18. VALLE D’AOSTA;
19. VENETO: Rovigo. 

Applicant/Coordinator: UISP APS

Partners: AUSER, UNPLI, ADA, ANCESCAO, FONDAZIONE SPORT RE

Funding body:  Ministry of Labor and Social Policies, Call n.2 pursuant to Article 72 of Legislative Decree No. 117 - 03/07/2017, year 2024

SUMMARY: The founding idea of the project is to promote the well-being and inclusion of over-65s through an integrated model that values sport as a tool to improve the quality of life, support social cohesion and create new economic opportunities. The project is based on the idea that physical activity, expressed in accessible and inclusive ways, not only contributes to maintaining the health and independence of seniors but can also generate positive social, environmental, and economic impacts for local communities. The goal is twofold: first, to meet the needs of an aging population, and second, to transform this challenge into a lever for sustainable development. With this project, UISP aims to enhance the synergies between sport and the Silver Economy, transforming them into key elements for developing more resilient, cohesive, and sustainable communities, focusing on aging not as a problem, but as a resource for generating well-being and innovation. To this end, adapted physical activities will be promoted, encouraging the active participation of seniors and creating spaces for interaction between different generations. Active citizenship initiatives will also be encouraged, with the aim of integrating people over 65 into the social life, involving them in roles promoting well-being and supporting local networks. Another key aspect of the project is the collaboration with public and private bodies to develop programs that address the specific needs of over-65 population. Through dialogue with local institutions and the involvement of local associations, the project aims to promote policies and services that facilitate senior participation in sports and social activities, helping reduce isolation and improve their overall well-being. Finally, the project aims to stimulate the development of the Silver Economy, creating new employment opportunities in wellness and sports sectors for people over 65, while promoting sustainability and social innovation. Active aging thus becomes a driver of growth and inclusion, capable of generating value not only for individuals but also for the entire community.

OBJECTIVES:Six key areas can be identified that the "AGE" project intends to address, integrating sport and physical activity into a global approach that highlights the active role of people over 65 in the social and economic context, valorizing aging as a resource for sustainable development.

 Health and Physical Wellbeing:

• Maintaining physical health and independence;
• Preventing and managing chronic diseases;
• Supporting mental and emotional wellbeing.

Inclusion and Socialization:

• To fight social isolation;
• To create gathering spaces.

Accessibility and Inclusiveness of Services:

• To adapt sports activities to the needs of senior population;
• To offer training and updating courses to sports workers;
• To enhance the economic and social role of people over 65;
• To recognize the socioeconomic contribution of people over 65;
• To create employment and business opportunities. 

Environmental and infrastructural sustainability:

•  Ensuring the availability of adequate and accessible spaces;
• Regeneration of urban and natural spaces to encourage sports practice.

Awareness and information:

• To increase awareness of the benefits of sports for people over 65;
• To promote awareness of the economic benefits that active aging can bring to local communities. 

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

• Promoting the adoption of healthy lifestyles to reduce the risk of disease and improve overall well-being;
• Supporting the regeneration of spaces for sports to help make cities more sustainable, livable, and inclusive;
• Reducing the carbon footprint of sports activities and promoting sustainable practices, such as the use of renewable energy, waste reduction, and the adoption of eco-friendly transportation options
•   Enhancing the educational function of sport; strengthen sports accessibility processes for vulnerable and disabled people;
• Promoting the inclusion of people of all ages, genders, abilities, races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds in sports;
• Activating development processes aimed at qualify sport and physical activity as an "innovation ecosystem". 

PROJECT ACTIONS:   

Target:

• 5200 Third Sector sports associations
• 2150 Administrators and public officials
• 2150 Boys and girls (04-17 years)
• 2150 Adults (18-64 anni)
• 5030 Over 65 

COMP 1 - Management

COMP2 – Communication

COMP 3 - Activation of development network of AGE project
Structuring of the collaboration network / operational network
-National Living Lab (LLN) / National coordination grouP
-Regional Living Lab Regionale (LLR) / Local coordination grouP
- Activation of a co-development platform
The national level will be responsible for defining the AGE strategy and guidelines, and for coordination and capacity-building activities. The regional level will be responsible for implementing the co-development processes necessary for preparing the AGE territorial plans.
- Activation of thematic working groups
-Co-development and co-planning activities 

COMP 4 - Implementation of pilot actions
4.1 Four pilot actions are planned at the national level: AGE Academy - activation and development of a collaboration and sharing platform aimed to assist UISP staff in upgrading their skills in planning, management, and development of Silver Social Economy activities. AGE Vouchers - an initiative aimed at supporting the participation of over-65s in sports, with particular attention to those most at risk of exclusion. A nationwide call for proposals will be prepared to provide vouchers to encourage the participation of over-65s in physical activity.
AGE Incubator - an initiative aimed at scouting and coaching ideas to enhance the connection between aging and sport as an opportunity for professional and business development.
Sports Co-existences - an initiative aimed to test new forms of co-existence and shared spaces to facilitate the inclusion of sports and physical activity in the daily lives of people over 65 (to be held at sports facilities during summer camps).
4.2 The local committees will be involved in pilot projects aimed to test and measure the values of initiatives supporting the Silver Social Economy. Silver Spaces - Action aimed to promote the well-being and health of over-65s through the organization of physical and sporting activities in environments not conventionally dedicated to sport (condominium courtyards and neighborhood squares; public parks and gardens; shopping mall arcades and common areas). AGE Tourism - The initiative aims to promote accessible and inclusive tourism and sports itineraries for over-65s, enhancing the connection between sport, wellness, and tourism. Intergenerational plogging – the action combines physical activity with environmental protection, promoting waste collection while walking or running in public spaces such as parks, beaches, and urban areas. The participation of people from different age groups, from children to people over 65, further enhances the value of the action, fostering cooperation and the transmission of values between generations.

 COMP5 - Project monitoring and evaluation

PROJECT RESULTS:
COMP2 – Communication

• Communication plan
• Launch meeting
• local press conferences
• Closing meeting

COMP 3 - Activation and development of AGE Living Lab

• Guidelines
• Network management and development plaN
• Organization of entertainment activities and capacity-building
• Web area Age P

COMP 4 - Implementation of pilot actions

•  Vouchering activitieS
• Skills development activities;
• Scouting, tutoring, and coaching activities;
• Experimentation with sports partnerships;
• Promotion of places not commonly used for sports and physical activity;
• Experimentation with tourism and sports itineraries;
• Organization of intergenerational plogging events