Breaking Barriers Through Esports and Sport: The BEST Project Kick-Off in Rome
Rome is a city that’s seen it all—change, challenge, and reinvention. My recent trip there for the BEST Project kick-off felt like part of that ongoing story. The BEST Project, an Erasmus-backed initiative—aims to connect esports and traditional sports through education, bridging the gap between the digital and the physical. That’s no small goal. It challenges how we think about competition, discipline, and growth.
The Purpose Behind BEST
Here’s the deal: life is competitive. To get anywhere, you need competence, and both esports and sports are great training grounds for that. They teach you how to communicate, strategize, and work as a team—skills that translate far beyond the game. The BEST Villages initiative is all about giving young people, especially those who face barriers like disabilities—a structured space to push themselves, test their limits, and develop resilience.
The Rome Kick-Off: A Meeting of Minds
The event in Rome, led by Fondazione Giovanni Paolo II per lo Sport, was all about getting ambitious people in the same room to figure out how to make this work. And that’s crucial. If you want to build something meaningful, you don’t wait for things to happen—you seek out the right people and start making things happen.
I travelled to Rome with George Cork from Esports Academics, NYSA Sweden’s esports partner, who will be playing a key role in leading Work Package 2. George brings a wealth of experience in esports education, and his involvement ensures that the project will have a solid foundation in the integration of gaming and traditional sports education. His insights during the discussions were invaluable, especially in shaping how esports-driven skill development will be structured.
One of the most exciting discussions was around NYSA Sweden’s co-creation methodology, which lies at the heart of our mission to empower young people through participatory, youth-led approaches. NYSA Sweden’s role in WP2 is to lead the co-creation methodology design, ensuring that young people, educators, and esports professionals collaboratively shape how esports can complement traditional sports. This approach fosters social inclusion, reduces sports dropout rates, and builds innovative educational pathways. To achieve this, NYSA Sweden is developing the BEST Co-Creation Toolkit, which provides structured guidance, resources, and practical exercises for designing and executing esports-integrated sports education initiatives.
Another major highlight of the trip was meeting Professor Laura Capranica, President of the European Athlete as Student (EAS) Network and a leading academic at Rome University specializing in sports. Our discussions with her were incredibly insightful, as she provided a deeper historical perspective on how sport shaped modern Rome. From the fascism to the modern Olympic movement, she helped us understand the deep-rooted cultural significance of competition in Italy. Her passion for dual-career pathways in sports and education resonated strongly with our mission, reinforcing the importance of structured support systems for young athletes balancing education and sport.
Presenting at the Library of the Chamber of Deputies
The final event of our visit took place in a setting that underscored the significance of our mission—the Library of the Chamber of Deputies. This was more than just a presentation; it was an opportunity to bring the ideas behind BEST to a wider audience of policymakers, educators, and sports leaders. Alongside Rui Miranda Vieira (SEA, Portugal) I had the honour of delivering a six-minute talk on esports and education, focusing on the co-creation process with young people in developing future esports and sports-related events and projects.
Standing in such a prestigious venue, I emphasised how esports is not just about competition—it’s about creating opportunities, developing transferable skills, and providing a structured pathway for young people to engage with sports in new and meaningful ways. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with key stakeholders expressing enthusiasm for the integration of esports into sports education. This moment reinforced just how critical it is to ensure that young people are actively shaping the future of esports and sports, rather than being passive participants in systems designed without them.
Personal Experience in Rome
Beyond the meetings and workshops, the experience of staying in Via Flaminia, a suburb of Rome, added another layer to the trip. The area had a raw authenticity, a blend of classic Roman charm with a hipster, creative energy. From independent coffee shops and artisan bakeries to graffiti-covered walls and tucked-away trattorias, it felt like the kind of place where old meets new, much like what we’re doing with BEST—blending traditional sports with the emerging world of esports. It was the perfect backdrop to reflect on the project’s potential while absorbing the essence of Rome beyond the tourist hotspots.
Key Takeaways
Let’s address the elephant in the room: esports still has a stigma. A lot of people don’t see it as a valid way to develop real-world skills. That’s a mistake. When structured properly, esports is a mental training ground, it sharpens decision-making, adaptability, and teamwork. These are the same qualities that top athletes, entrepreneurs, and leaders rely on.
Then there’s accessibility. If we believe in equal opportunity, that means ensuring everyone—including people with disabilities—gets a fair shot at engaging in competition. This project is leading the way by developing adaptive tools and inclusive participation models that prove esports and sports aren’t just for a select few.
Looking Ahead
The Rome kick-off was just the beginning. Now comes the real test: turning vision into action. The plan is to roll out BEST Villages in Sweden, Italy, and Portugal, bringing these ideas to life. The big question is: will it work? Can we make esports and sports function as a unified tool for education and personal growth? That remains to be seen, but what’s certain is that this project is tackling something that matters.
And that’s the real takeaway. Esports and sports aren’t just about winning games—they’re about self-improvement, mastery, and discipline. If young people engage in these challenges in the right way, they’ll build the skills and mindset to handle whatever life throws at them.
Rome was just the start. Now, it’s time to get to work—to prove that by embracing challenge and competition, esports and sports together can change education, open new opportunities, and help build stronger, more capable individuals. And that, my friends, is a game worth playing.
A Final Thank You
A huge thank you to all of our partners who made this event possible—Fondazione Giovanni Paolo II per lo Sport, Derthona Basket, Sport Evolution Alliance, NYSA Sweden, and all the individuals who contributed their time, knowledge, and enthusiasm. Your dedication to integrating esports and sports into education is paving the way for a more inclusive and innovative future. Looking forward to continuing this journey together!