We are delighted to announce that our new Erasmus+ Sport project, “Fencing Without Barriers,” has officially received approval! This 24-month initiative aims to promote inclusion in fencing by equipping coaches with inclusive and adapted techniques to train individuals with visual and physical disabilities alongside non-disabled participants. The project fosters social integration, empowerment, and equal participation in fencing across Europe. Activities will include the development of an inclusive and adapted fencing training program for coaches, online theoretical seminars for 20 coaches from Greece, Italy, France, and Norway, and three transnational meetings to exchange best practices. Additionally, hands-on training workshops will be organized for coaches in each country, complemented by a three-month inclusive fencing program for twenty individuals with disabilities. Research on the impact of inclusive fencing and coaches’ perspectives on adapted training will also be conducted, culminating in an International Inclusive Fencing Day in Greece and four final dissemination events. The project’s main outputs will include a digital training toolkit for coaches on inclusive and adapted fencing, recorded online training sessions, and research studies on the benefits of inclusive fencing and coaches’ perspectives on inclusive training. The “Fencing Without Barriers” consortium brings together the University of Peloponnese – Department of Sports Organization and Management (Greece) as coordinator, along with Escrime Pays de Lunel (France), Drammen Fekteklubb (Norway), Stowarzyszenie Szermierka Wolomin (Poland), and EULink Single Member P.C. (Greece) as partners. Through this project, we aim to make fencing a sport for all, breaking barriers and promoting equality, inclusion, and well-being for individuals with disabilities.
