Български
NEWS
Sport without barriers: Bulgarian participation in iSportFest 2026 in Spain
26.10.2026
Six Bulgarian athletes with intellectual disabilities took part in the international sports festival Fiesta del Deporte: iSportFest 2026, held in Murcia and Cartagena, Spain. From 21 to 26 October 2026, the Bulgarian delegation, representing Bulgarian sports development association (BSDA), participated in international sports and educational activities aimed at promoting inclusion, equal opportunities, and the active participation of people with intellectual disabilities in sport.
Bulgaria was represented by Angel Boyadzhiev, Dimitar Tenchev, Monika Ivanova, Nikola Tagarev, Nina Al Rifai, and Hrabar Natov. They were accompanied by Assoc. Prof. Stefka Dzhobova and Assoc. Prof. Ivelina Kirilova, lecturers at the National Sports Academy “Vasil Levski” and experts in adapted physical activity and sport, Hristo Panchev, coach and Joanna Dochevska, the project manager representing BSDA.
The international festival, co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, brought together participants and organisations from 13 European countries, offering a diverse programme featuring more than 100 types of sports, including water, beach, and urban sports, as well as practical and interactive activities. The joint activities provided opportunities for sporting participation, the exchange of experience, and the development of new friendships among participants with different abilities and levels of experience. As part of the conference agenda, BSDA presented the #SPORT – Strengthening Potentials through Opportunities, Respect, and Team-spirit initiative, which focuses on people with intellectual disabilities in Bulgaria and Turkey. The project combines sports activities and international camps with capacity-building for coaches and sports administrators to help them implement adapted and inclusive sports practices. More information is available at www.sportinclusion.org.
For the Bulgarian athletes, participating in iSportFest 2026 was much more than a sporting challenge. The international environment, new experiences, and opportunity to be part of a major European event helped foster their independence, confidence, and social skills. Initiatives like this demonstrate the importance of sport as a means of creating an inclusive environment in which everyone has the opportunity to participate, develop, and feel accepted.
The festival was organised as part of a European initiative coordinated by the University of Murcia, bringing together organisations from different countries to create more opportunities for inclusive sport. BSDA’s participation reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to the development of adapted physical activity and sport, as well as to expanding international cooperation in this field. Once again, iSportFest 2026 demonstrated that sport is a universal language that overcomes differences, builds friendships, and enables everyone to be part of the community.
Fiesta del Deporte: iSportFest 2026 (101245372) is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
The international festival, co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, brought together participants and organisations from 13 European countries, offering a diverse programme featuring more than 100 types of sports, including water, beach, and urban sports, as well as practical and interactive activities. The joint activities provided opportunities for sporting participation, the exchange of experience, and the development of new friendships among participants with different abilities and levels of experience. As part of the conference agenda, BSDA presented the #SPORT – Strengthening Potentials through Opportunities, Respect, and Team-spirit initiative, which focuses on people with intellectual disabilities in Bulgaria and Turkey. The project combines sports activities and international camps with capacity-building for coaches and sports administrators to help them implement adapted and inclusive sports practices. More information is available at www.sportinclusion.org.
For the Bulgarian athletes, participating in iSportFest 2026 was much more than a sporting challenge. The international environment, new experiences, and opportunity to be part of a major European event helped foster their independence, confidence, and social skills. Initiatives like this demonstrate the importance of sport as a means of creating an inclusive environment in which everyone has the opportunity to participate, develop, and feel accepted.
The festival was organised as part of a European initiative coordinated by the University of Murcia, bringing together organisations from different countries to create more opportunities for inclusive sport. BSDA’s participation reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to the development of adapted physical activity and sport, as well as to expanding international cooperation in this field. Once again, iSportFest 2026 demonstrated that sport is a universal language that overcomes differences, builds friendships, and enables everyone to be part of the community.
Fiesta del Deporte: iSportFest 2026 (101245372) is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
