IOFA project

Pilot IOFA Trail O Event in Sofia
11.03.2025
Today, March 11, 2025, a pilot Trail O orienteering event took place in Mladost Park, as part of the Inclusive Orienteering for All (IOFA) project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme. The initiative involved students from the 144th Secondary School "Narodni Buditeli," who were introduced to the fundamentals of orienteering and the challenges of the Trail O discipline.
Trail O is a special form of orienteering that emphasizes observation, logical thinking, and terrain analysis rather than physical endurance. This makes it fully accessible to people with varying physical abilities, including those with mobility difficulties.

During the event, participants navigated a specially designed route with control points where they had to make precise decisions based on maps and terrain descriptions. In addition to the practical experience, students learned about the significance of orienteering as an inclusive sport and how it can be used to enhance cognitive and analytical skills.

The IOFA project brings together organizations from Croatia, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Hungary, with the goal of developing and promoting orienteering as an inclusive sport. In Bulgaria, the initiative is coordinated by the Bulgarian sports development association and was conducted in partnership with the Local Commission for Combating Antisocial Behaviors of Minors – Mladost. Beyond organizing practical events, the project also envisions the development of educational materials for schools, sports clubs, and organizations working with people with disabilities.