The No Limits project: a pilot experience for promoting sports activities among gifted youth

The ‘No Limits Sport for Gifted Children’ project (Erasmus+ Sport) was designed to investigate and promote sports participation among gifted and talented (GT) youth, addressing their specific barriers and needs. Through a strategic collaboration between institutions from Spain and Latvia, the project was structured into four phases: preparation, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination, including activities such as training workshops for coaches, needs analysis, and a pilot experience with GT children. The results showed that 84% of GT youth participated in sports over the past year, with basketball, athletics, and football being the most popular sports. Their main motivations were fun (34,6%) and enjoyment of sports (19,6%). However, GT youth exhibited lower general interest in sports (48% reported little or no interest) and higher inactivity rates (16%) compared to the general population. Furthermore, coaches demonstrated limited knowledge of this group's needs, with 51,5% reporting familiarity but lacking specific training. The pilot experience involved 70 young participants in activities such as orienteering and parkour, achieving high levels of satisfaction. Additionally, workshops trained 142 coaches and educators, who positively assessed the usefulness and applicability of the training. The project highlights the importance of inclusive strategies combining awareness, specialized training, and adapted sports environments to maximize the physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits of sports for GT youth. This underscores the role of sports as a cornerstone for their holistic development.