The two-day “Sport for Inclusion and Empowerment (SIE) Roundtable” successfully gathered youth organizations, sports professionals, researchers, policymakers, and local stakeholders in Elbasan, Albania, creating a dynamic space for dialogue, cooperation, and the exchange of experiences focused on inclusive sport and youth empowerment. The event was hosted by YRCI Albania on 14–15 May 2026 at Hotel Skampa in Elbasan. 

Throughout the first day of the roundtable, participants reflected on the initial research findings developed within the framework of the SIE project. Discussions focused on the barriers young people continue to face in accessing inclusive and equal opportunities in sports, while also highlighting the powerful role sport can play in fostering empowerment, participation, equality, and social inclusion. The programme included presentations of the SIE project and research outcomes, followed by interactive roundtable discussions that encouraged participants to share local experiences and perspectives from their respective countries and organizations. 

The second day focused on transforming research insights into practical recommendations and sustainable future actions. Through focused roundtable sessions and collaborative discussions, participants explored concrete strategies for creating more accessible and inclusive sports initiatives for young people across the region. Special attention was given to the importance of stronger cooperation between youth organizations, sports clubs, researchers, local authorities, and policymakers in order to build long-term and impactful solutions that leave no young person behind. 

The SIE Roundtable represented an important milestone in strengthening regional cooperation and ensuring that young people’s voices remain at the center of future initiatives connected to sport, inclusion, and social empowerment. The event also provided participants with an opportunity to establish new partnerships, exchange good practices, and contribute to the development of recommendations that will support more inclusive sports environments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Spain, Greece, Montenegro, and Albania.

Implemented within the framework of the Erasmus+ Sport project “Sport for Inclusion and Empowerment (SIE),” the initiative continues to promote the role of sport as a powerful educational and social tool capable of encouraging equality, participation, and positive change within communities.