ENGSO at the European Paralympic Committee Conference and General Assembly in London, UK

On 29–30 August 2025, ParalympicsGB hosted the European Paralympic Committee (EPC) Conference and General Assembly, bringing together nearly 150 representatives of member and partner organisations from across Europe. ENGSO was represented by Tarja Krum, Chair of ENGSO’s Equality Within Sport (EWS) Committee and member of the ENGSO Executive Committee, together with EWS member Margarita Karadimitropoulou from the Hellenic Paralympic committee.

Themed “Towards a More Inclusive Europe: The Role of Para Sport”, the conference on 29. August created space for knowledge exchange, sharing best practices, and shaping the EPC’s 2025–2033 Strategic Plan. Throughout the day, participants engaged in discussions on:

  • Pathways into Para Sport: ParalympicsGB presented the Paralympic Potential recruitment model, designed to identify, inspire, and develop Para athletes through structured pathways and strong community networks.
  • Inclusive Physical Education (PE): The Equal Play campaign introduced concrete solutions to empower teachers, adapt training, and prioritise inclusive PE in schools, while also increasing opportunities for disabled educators.
  • European Para Youth Games (EPYG): Delegates reviewed key event priorities, including classification, growth strategies, international collaboration, and expanding the Discovery Programme to enhance its social and legacy impact.
  • Advocacy and Inclusion: Sessions led by the Council of Europe and the EPYG Legacy Initiative reinforced the importance of equality and accessibility in sport at all levels.
Tarja at epc
Tarja epc vienna

Breakout sessions encouraged members to share best practices in athlete recruitment, discuss grassroots barriers, and reflect on how EPC can best serve its membership, laying the groundwork for the organisation’s new long-term strategy.

 

The following day, the General Assembly convened in a spirit of dialogue and commitment. Delegates elected a new EPC Executive Board for 2025–2029:

  • Raymond Blondel (Netherlands) was re-elected unopposed as President for a second term.
  • Natalija Novikova (Latvia) was elected Vice-President.
  • Terje Roel (Norway) was elected Treasurer.
  • Tiago Carvalho (Portugal), Njomza Emini (Kosovo), Åsa Llinares Norlin (Sweden), Anita Urr (Hungary), and Tomas Varga (Slovakia) were elected Members-at-Large.
  • Markus Salcher (Austria), Chair of the EPC Athletes’ Council, continues as the ninth board member.

Both events, hosted at the Park Plaza Hotel in central London, demonstrated the strength of the European Paralympic movement and its commitment to collaboration, equality, and athlete empowerment. ENGSO looks forward to continuing and strengthening its long-lasting cooperation with the EPC and its members.