European Study Visits Strengthen HSSF Programmes under the TRIPLE Project
In July 2026, the Hungarian School Sport Federation (HSSF) concluded its Erasmus+ sport mobility project, through which ten HSSF staff members had the opportunity to learn about the programmes and good practices of three leading European organisations in Estonia, Germany and France.
The aim of the study visits was to gain international experience that could contribute to the further development of HSSF’s flagship initiatives, particularly the Active School Programme, the Diákolimpia® (School Olympics) and European School Sport Day (ESSD).
In Estonia, we explored the Schools in Motion programme run by the University of Tartu. The visit focused on physically active learning, active breaks, outdoor education, active mobility, and the involvement of students and teachers. We encountered several approaches that could also be applied in the further development of the Hungarian Active School Programme.
In France, the programmes of the French School Sport Federation, Union Nationale du Sport Scolaire, were at the centre of the visit. Its “for young people, by young people” approach was particularly inspiring, as students can take an active role in organising and delivering sporting events as organisers, referees, coaches or reporters. The face-to-face meetings helped strengthen the relationship between HSSF and UNSS and also contributed to the French organisation joining the international European School Sport Day network.
During our professional visit to the German Gymnastics Federation, Deutscher Turner-Bund, we learned about the development of grassroots sport, the operation of sports organisation networks, support for local communities, and programmes designed to engage different target groups. The German experience reinforced the importance of long-term network building, professional support and locally driven initiatives.
When organising the journeys, we also aimed to choose sustainable and active forms of transport wherever possible. At the destinations, we regularly travelled on foot or by bicycle. Although flying was unavoidable when travelling to France and Estonia, we travelled to Frankfurt by long-distance train. In France, we also took the train from Paris to the site of a school sport event in Normandy.
HSSF staff will share the knowledge and experience gained during the professional visits through internal knowledge-sharing activities and explore how the lessons learned can be incorporated into the Federation’s national and international programmes. The project also helped establish new professional relationships and opened the way for further cooperation.
The project was implemented with the support of the European Union under the Erasmus+ programme’s Mobility of Sport Staff action (KA182-SPO).
Project reference: 2025-1-HU01-KA182-SPO-000299655
Project period: 1 August 2025 – 31 July 2026
