The European Grassroots Esports project is heading towards concluding its dynamic journey with a much-anticipated final session scheduled during the Moving People – Moving Europe Conference on 13 November 2024. Hosted at the Union Conference Center in Ljubljana, Slovenia, this conference will bring together grassroots sports advocates and stakeholders across Europe to celebrate and share the transformative achievements of the project. Spearheaded by the International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA) and supported by six dedicated project partners from DGI (Denmark), H20 Esports Campus (the Netherlands), HUNESZ (Hungary), play-ES HanseSPIEL e.V. (Germany) and Viken Idrettskrets (Norway), the European Grassroots Esports initiative has focused on pioneering value-based esports practices to help local sports clubs integrate esports in ways that promote positive social values, inclusivity, and community building.

The European Grassroots Esports project has been a unique effort in bridging traditional sports values with the increasingly popular esports sector. This initiative aimed to fill a pressing gap in the esports landscape by offering sports clubs and local communities a framework to introduce esports focusing on responsible practices. Rather than merely promoting digital gaming, the project has been about establishing esports as a tool for social good. The project champions a healthy, balanced approach to esports that highlights the benefits of responsible digital engagement and community-driven participation by aligning esports practices with values that strengthen individual growth, teamwork, and social responsibility.

One of the European Grassroots Esports project's notable achievements is its extensive mapping of stakeholders and conceptual models and dimensions of grassroots esports, highlighting responsible esports models. The project team has worked diligently to provide practical guidance for local sports clubs looking to enter the esports space, emphasising ethics, mental well-being, teamwork, and a sense of belonging. This mapping exercise, coupled with developing practical resources such as an online learning course and three national pilot programs, offers clubs a roadmap to establish grassroots esports activities that align with these values. Additionally, the project has led four national seminars across Europe and has been committed to engaging a broad audience through these capacity-building events.

At the heart of this initiative is the belief that esports can foster meaningful connections and social benefits among youth and broader community members when managed with reliability and foresight. Through this project, partner organisations have collaborated to not only understand the potential of esports within grassroots sports but also to build tangible tools that can be adapted by sports clubs to ensure esports is implemented in a way that reflects community values.

Final Dissemination Session: A Day of Insight, Interaction, and Networking

The final peak of the European Grassroots Esports project will be a highlight of the Moving People – Moving Europe Conference. The dedicated workshop session on “The European Grassroots Esports Community: A Value-Based and value-driven Community” will provide an in-depth look at the insights and breakthroughs achieved throughout the project. Participants will learn about the best practices identified and how the project has approached challenges such as engaging younger audiences, building a culture of digital responsibility, and enhancing the sense of community within esports.

In addition to informative presentations, the workshop will encourage active discussion, with project leaders sharing what they have learned and the resources developed to support esports as a community-building platform. Attendees will be able to understand the project’s theoretical foundation and practical applications through the online learning course, which offers clubs a step-by-step approach to starting responsible grassroots esports initiatives. Moreover, the session will address future needs and potential expansions in the esports landscape to continue growing the values-driven esports model.

Speed Dating: Building Bridges for Future Collaborations

A particularly engaging segment of the day will be the Speed Dating session—an innovative networking opportunity to bring project partners and participants together. During this hour-long workshop, each project represented at the conference will present its objectives, key learnings, and resources in a fast-paced, interactive format. For those interested in the European Grassroots Esports project, this segment offers a unique chance to connect directly with the project team, discuss specific challenges, share experiences, and gain further insight into how value-driven esports can benefit local communities.

The Speed Dating session is structured to foster new alliances and collaborative ideas, sparking conversations that could lead to future projects or initiatives in the (grassroots) esports field. By focusing on esports' social benefits and value-driven aspects, the project partners hope to inspire participants to explore how their own work or local initiatives can be enhanced through esports.

Let’s discuss the topic together, and let’s meet in Ljubljana!