G.S. Iraklis Marks World Autism Awareness Day with an Inclusive Sport Event in Thessaloniki

On 2 April 2026, G.S. Iraklis reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive sport through the organisation of an awareness and participation event held on the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day at the Chortatzides Sports Complex in Thessaloniki, Greece.

The event was implemented in collaboration with the ARIADNE II Boarding House and brought together more than 200 participants, including educators, coaches, parents, students, and organisations active in the fields of disability, education, and social support. Through shared activities and direct interaction, the event created a space where different experiences could meet — and where diversity was approached not as a challenge to be managed, but as a collective strength to be embraced.

The initiative formed part of a broader effort to highlight the importance of understanding, equal participation, and the meaningful inclusion of people on the autism spectrum in everyday social life. More than a symbolic action, the event functioned as a lived experience of inclusion in practice — demonstrating that real change begins with creating environments that are designed to respond to different needs.

Throughout the day, participants engaged in activities and discussions that brought forward a simple but essential insight: inclusion is not an abstract idea. It is shaped through everyday choices, through open communication, and through the intentional design of spaces and programmes that genuinely welcome every individual.

The event also brought together a number of local organisations and institutions, reflecting the strong community dimension of the initiative:

• Creative Activity Centre for People with Disabilities Kato Toumba
• Creative Activity Centre for People with Disabilities MAZI Ampelokipoi
• Autism Centre “Achtida”
• 1st Primary School of Agios Pavlos
• Association of Friends of People with Disabilities “Action for Something Different”

The action was organised within the framework of Inclusive Play, an Erasmus+ Sport Cooperation Partnership coordinated by G.S. Iraklis. The project focuses on strengthening the capacity of coaches, educators, and sport organisations to support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities — including autism, ADHD, and dyslexia — through the development of a structured training programme and a practical manual designed for real coaching conditions.

While sport is widely recognised as a powerful tool for inclusion, everyday practice often reveals a gap between intention and implementation. The World Autism Awareness Day event served as a concrete demonstration of what the Inclusive Play project is working to address: building the knowledge, tools, and confidence that professionals need to make inclusive sport a consistent reality — not just an aspiration.

Dr. Giorgos Chatzinakos, Strategy and Community Officer at G.S. Iraklis and project coordinator of Inclusive Play, reflected on the significance of the event:

“Inclusion is not about fitting children into sport. It is about shaping sport so that it works for every child. It means creating a form of sport that listens, adapts, and makes space. That takes more than intention. It takes knowledge, the right tools, and consistency in everyday practice. Inclusive Play is about making that shift real.”

The Inclusive Play consortium congratulates G.S. Iraklis on this meaningful initiative and looks forward to continuing to build on moments like these as the project moves into its next phases of development and delivery across Europe.