Within the European Week of Winter Sport (EWWS) project, a seminar with workshops was organised in the town hall of the coastal Croatian town of Rijeka from November 15th and 17th. 

Partners and participants from Bulgaria, Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Slovenia and Spain came together to discuss the project’s objectives and execution plans. The European Week of Winter Sport project aims to organize a winter week of sports emphasizing sustainability, inclusivity and community engagement, under the #BeActiveWinter hashtag and campaign.

At this seminar, the European University Sports Associationa (EUSA) was represented by Mr Jan Hussu and Ms Mojca Rupert, and nominated 5 participants from Slovenia.

The first day began by the arrival of the partners, followed by an overview of the project and sessions to meet participants. After the formalities, attendees had the opportunity to explore the Rijeka’s city centre and visit the Rijeka Castle, which offers a stunning view of the city. The day concluded with a dinner, providing participants with a relaxed setting to network and connect.

Saturday was marked by a full schedule of sessions and activities. The day started with a brief physical activation session. The first agenda topic, led by the Kilian Jornet Foundation and Lunex, focused on the challenges and best practices faced by winter sports organisations. After a short presentation, participants were divided into five groups to brainstorm and present their insights on these challenges.

After a short break, a discussion panel featured Ms Taja Skorc from the Slovenian Olympic Committee and Mr Juan Martorell Aroca from the Spanish High Council of Sport. They shared good practices from events organised as part of the European Week of Sport in their respective countries. Moderated by Ms Mojca Rupert on behalf of the EUSA Institute, the session addressed numerous questions, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas and opinions. After lunch, the German partner Nest Berlin presented a practical toolkit for event organisation. Participants engaged in group work, producing and presenting noteworthy results and ideas. Next, Sport for Education and Health (DES) led a session about sustainable event organization, where groups explored on one of the three pillars of sustainability, identifying challenges and proposing solutions. The final afternoon activity consisted of a photo contest. Each project partner submitted photos highlighting sustainability, accessibility and related to winter sports captured in Rijeka’s city center. The day concluded with a dinner, offering another opportunity for networking.

The final day of works began with another short physical activation session, followed by an engaging workshop led by Bulgarian Sports Development Association (BSDA) and the European Platform for Sport and Innovation (EPSI). This session emphasized effective audience engagement and the importance of creating relevant contents in form of videos. Participants then analysed the communications strategies of major winter sport events, noting different approaches tailored to different audiences. The concluding activity was a brainstorming session, where partners generated ideas for events to be held during the European Week of Winter Sport, scheduled to be carried out in the first week of February.

The three-day meeting wrapped up with a shared commitment to implement the ideas and practices discussed during the sessions. The gathering not only provided a platform for collaboration but also fostered networking and laid the groundwork for potential future partnerships. The European Week of Winter Sport project event was a resounding success, setting the stage for an impactful and engaging winter sports initiative.

EWWS is a 3-year project, co-funded by the European Union, with activities being carried out between 2024 and 2026. The cooperation partnership in the field of sport within the Erasmus+ programme brings together 9 entities from 8 countries, with L'Orma from Italy as the coordinator and partners Bulgarian Sports Development Association (BSDA) from Bulgaria, Sport for Education and Health (DES) and Kilian Jornet Foundation from Spain, Ski club Rijeka from Croatia, NEST Berlin from Germany, International University of Health, Exercise and Sports (LUNEX) from Luxembourg, European Platform for Sports and Innovation (EPSI) from Belgium and EUSA Institute from Slovenia.

For more information, please see https://wintersportweek.com.