The program, led by Cullera City Council in collaboration with Trust Rugby International Spain and the University of Valencia, aims to promote this sports discipline that fosters social integration throughout Europe. Mayor: “We want to build a more solidarity and inclusive Europe” CULLERA.
06/13/22. Cullera is currently participating in the second meeting of the European project ‘Varied’ for the promotion of inclusive rugby in Rome. On Monday, the mayor of the town, Jordi Mayor, and the deputy mayor in charge of Economic Promotion, Débora Marí, attended a working meeting held at the city council of the Italian capital. Each project partner presented the actions carried out to date, as well as future strategies to promote inclusive rugby. “We want to build a more solidarity and inclusive Europe.
Our goal is to ensure that inclusive rugby is known and practiced throughout Europe, hence the importance of this project.
Meetings like today’s are crucial for launching actions that promote equal and inclusive sports,” stated Jordi Mayor. Participating in this second meeting, held on June 13th and 14th, are Cullera, the University of Valencia, Trust Rugby International Spain, GIPACOR (France), Rugby Union Donau Wien (Austria), CUS Roma Tor Vergata (Italy), and the European Centre for Innovation, Education, Science and Culture (Bulgaria). ‘Varied’ Inclusive Rugby Project The ‘Varied’ project, funded with €200,000 from European funds, is a pioneering program involving five countries (Spain, Italy, Austria, Bulgaria, and France), coordinated by Cullera through the European Office of the Department of Economic Promotion of the city council.
The Varied program aims to transmit Cullera’s knowledge in inclusive rugby applied to the recruitment and training of volunteers.
It is worth noting that this type of rugby, developed by Trust Rugby International Spain in collaboration with the Espurna Association and volunteers from the Cullera Rugby Club, encourages individuals with and without disabilities, men and women, to play rugby together and use team sports as a means of social integration.
The ‘Varied’ project involves Cullera City Council, Trust Rugby International Spain, and the University of Valencia representing Spain, as well as other entities and organizations from Italy, France, Bulgaria, and Austria. Among them are renowned institutions such as Università di Roma Tor Vergata (Italy), the Gipacor education center in Corsica (France), Rugby Open Borders (Austria), and the European Centre for Innovation, Education, Science and Culture (Bulgaria).
The project has a duration of 30 months. A new working meeting is planned for the end of the year in Corsica and another one for early 2023 in Bulgaria. The program will conclude with a closing festival between May and June 2023 in Cullera, where the five participating countries and various special guests from the international rugby community will take part.
Cullera European Office Cullera has had a European Office since the previous term, fulfilling one of the objectives of the government team led by Jordi Mayor. Since then, the town has secured European funding exceeding several million euros. This financial boost has also served to drive and promote the economy in various sectors such as sports and tourism.
