News and Media
European Paralympic Committee brings together Para sport community for Policy and Development Hubs
The European Paralympic Committee, as part of its Erasmus+ supported European Para Youth Games (EPYG) Legacy Initiative, is bringing together National Paralympic Committees, international sport federations, NGOs and policy-makers for three days of collaboration in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 3-5 June. The Policy and Development Hubs mark the next major milestone in the EPYG Legacy Initiative, following the Discovery Programme during the Istanbul 2025 European Para Youth Games and the Para School Programme workshops delivered in Türkiye earlier this year. Across the three days, representatives from across the European Para sport community will work together to strengthen the long-term foundations for inclusive sport. The programme will focus on rights and governance, sport and pedagogy, inclusion initiatives and funding, empowerment, dual careers, and policy alignment across European frameworks. The Hubs are designed to move beyond discussion and towards practical outputs. Through expert presentations, working groups and collaborative workshops, participants will [...]
European Para Championships 2027 announces sports for Geneva
The organisation of the European Para Championships 2027 have announced the 12 sports that will make up the programme in Geneva, Switzerland. The four-yearly multisport event for elite Para athletes, which has the European Paralympic Committee patronage, will be held from 2 to 15 August 2027 in and around the Palexpo complex in Geneva. The following sports have been included in the programme for the 2027 edition: Boccia Blind football Goalball Wheelchair rugby Para taekwondo Para archery Para badminton Para table tennis Wheelchair basketball 3x3 Wheelchair tennis Para judo Para climbing This line-up shows how the number of sports is growing compared to the previous edition. It further boosts the multisport character of the event, with more possibilities for different disciplines within one championship. This trend is being continued in Geneva and developed further. For a period of two weeks, more than 2,000 athletes from throughout Europe will [...]
European Paralympic Committee signs Fair Play Manifesto for World Fair Play Day
The European Paralympic Committee reaffirmed its commitment to the values and importance of fair play in Para sport on Tuesday (19 May), signing the Fair Play Manifesto as part of activities for World Fair Play Day. The European Paralympic Committee’s relationship with the European Fair Play Movement first began in 2013 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. Since then, the collaborative relationship has seen delegates welcomed to various events and shared promotion within each other’s networks. Most recently Athletes’ Council Chair and Executive Board Member, Markus Salcher, and European Paralympic Committee Vice President, Natalja Novikova, signed the global Fair Play Manifesto on behalf of the Executive Board of the European Paralympic Committee. Along with this commitment, seven-time Paralympic medallist Salcher, who recently retired from a stellar career in Para alpine skiing, also completed a symbolic reading of the Fair Play Text and shared what fair play means to [...]
European Paralympic Committee launches Para School Programme in Türkiye to bring inclusive sport into classrooms
The European Paralympic Committee’s European Para Youth Games (EPYG) Legacy Initiative is set to reach its latest major milestone between 13-17 April with the start of the roll-out of the Para School Programme in Istanbul and Adana. At its heart, the Para School Programme is designed to help children with disabilities feel more included in physical education and school sport as a normal part of school life. It is specifically designed to embed Para sport in schools across Türkiye and Europe by equipping teachers with adaptive sports training, integrating Para sport into school curricula, and providing students with structured pathways into sport. During the programme, over 200 teachers will learn about biotic motor skills, adaptive sport and inclusive practices as well as having the opportunity to apply their new knowledge through practical exercises. This will give them the tools to integrate these elements into their classes, offer enhanced support for [...]
Italy power to wheelchair basketball gold
Italy marched relentlessly to wheelchair basketball gold at the European Para Youth Games in Istanbul as they proved a class above all their opponents. It was a wonderful exhibition of the sport from a richly-talented team led majestically by Alessandro Sbuelz. Victories over the Netherlands, Portugal and France put Italy in pole position to finish off the job on Sunday (July 27) at Cebeci Sports Complex. And they did not disappoint, making certain of top spot by crushing Ireland 77-29 and then comfortably defeating Spain 96-22 in their final fixture that also closed the competition. Ireland had no answer as Federico Balsamo top-scored with 15 points, underlining his influence alongside Sbuelz and the similarly-prolific Luigi Topo. Between them, they amassed well over 150 points in the competition. Portugal's 63-46 victory over Ireland ensured that they won the silver medal, with Netherlands securing bronze. In the pool, Paris 2004 Paralympic Games [...]
Slovenia head coach Bobnar backs EPYG for boosting boccia talent
Slovenia's boccia head coach Maja Bobnar has underlined the importance of the European Para Youth Games for helping to develop young athletes. Bobnar has overseen a team of three in the boccia competition, including 14-year-old twins Anze and Enej Strazberger. Anze reached the BC2 mixed gold medal match after beating Slovakia's Nina Melicherova, while his brother, whose semi-final took place on an adjacent court, lost to Eliska Jankechova. Bobnar looked on at the Cebeci Sports Complex in Istanbul as both players did Slovenia proud, gaining priceless experience in the international arena. Boccia is a growing sport in Slovenia," Bobnar said. "The number of players is increasing all the time, and they are all striving to be successful. Slovenia also has had two Para swimmers and a Para table tennis player in Turkiye, and Bobnar added: "Something like EPYG is very important for these players. It is a first competition of [...]
