Central and Eastern Europe has the highest rate of prison population in Europe. The incarceration rate per 100 000 population in new member states is more than 100, in Romania - 142, in Bulgaria - 125, compared to Italy - 89 and Greece - 91. Most of the prison population is male, approximately 95%, with very high level of foreign representation in Greece –54% and in Italy - 35%. There is an over-representation of Roma minority in detention structures in Romania and Bulgaria. Little research has been done on sport in prison so far, nethertheless there are evidences that sport and physical activity programmes can provide a meaningful vehicle through which personal and social development in inmates can be positively affected and positive social changes, skills development and rehabilitation/reintegration can be achieved. In 1988, Uisp set, in collaboration with the Italian Justice Minister, a project known as Porte Aperte (Open Doors). The project has developed a comprehensive program committed to promote in all the Italian prisons a wider participation of the prison population in physical activities. Activities developed in the project were focused around three main themes: sport as vehicle to build or rebuild physical and psychological skills; sport as a safety place where to learn self-discipline, respect for rules and roles, socialization; sport associations as reference points and opportunity for settling down in the local community. The project has achieved very good outcomes and high level of participation. The SPIRITS project has transfered UISP know how in using sport in prison to four EU partner countries: Bulgaria, Romania and Greece to address the problem of inadequate support to prison population. SPIRITS partners have trained sport instructors and educators working with prisons providing concrete practical support how to utilize sport as a rehabilitation tool. Training in sport-based intervention on inmates and probationers have been focused on four main themes: maintaining and improving prisoners general wellness; helping the integration of individuals released into local communities; contrasting anti-social behaviours and fostering the learning of social values and social rules; effecting positively prison communities. Practitioners/professionals have exchanged successful practices and increase their competences. Initial training in Italy and follow up training in partner countries have involved more than 60 sport instructors and educators. Antidiscrimination and tolerance, discipline and control, team work and respect have been taught in an attractive way using sports as an educating tool. Partners have developed a practitioners’ guide in 5 European languages. Three transnational roundtables (IT, GR, BG), 5 local press conferences, involving large scale stakeholders and media have been organized to raise awareness of prison inmates life skills education. Training modules and material developed during the project will be disseminated across Europe through the partners' networks in each partner country. Partners will continue to provide trainings after the project ends mobilizing volunteers and raising new funds. Media and social network reflecting SPIRITS project will reach European citizens in their everyday life to remind of Europe's prison population and the need for its rehabilitation and integration.