EPIK Sport: Final Transnational Project Meeting in Rijeka

Rijeka (Croatia), 20–21 October 2025

The Final Transnational Project Meeting of the EPIK Sport project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme, was successfully held in Rijeka, Croatia, on 20–21 October 2025. The event marked the official conclusion of a European collaborative journey focused on youth safety in sport, injury prevention, and innovation in training programmes.

Day 1 – October 20: Sport, training and project outcomes

The first day took place at the Sports Hall Mladosti in Trsat, hosted by the Rijeka School Sports Association (SŠŠD Grada Rijeke), and combined practical activities with project work sessions.

The programme opened with the City School Judo Competition, providing a real-life context to reflect on the importance of safety and injury prevention in youth sport competitions. This was followed by the presentation of the EPIK Training Programme to local sports organisations, highlighting its preventive approach and its potential to improve the quality and sustainability of training practices.

Partners then reviewed and discussed the results of the pilot phase, sharing key findings, challenges, and best practices emerging from the implementation of the programme across different countries. The day concluded with the planning of final dissemination and reporting activities, ensuring the long-term impact and visibility of the project outcomes.

Day 2 – October 21: The Final Conference

The second day was dedicated to the Final Conference, held at the Faculty of Health Studies, University of Rijeka, and focused on dialogue between research, sports practice, and policy-making.

A panel discussion titled “Safety of Youth in Sport and Sports Initiatives for Health – The Role of the EPIK Programme” brought together experts from the fields of sport, medicine, academia, and parasport. The discussion emphasized the importance of integrating the EPIK methodology into local and national sports policies, promoting structured and evidence-based approaches to injury prevention from an early age.

Special attention was given to inclusive sport development, with contributions from parasport representatives who highlighted the need for training and prevention programmes that are adaptable to athletes with different abilities.

A European partnership for the future of sport

Partners from Croatia, Serbia, Portugal, Türkiye, and Italy took part in the meeting, reinforcing the strong international dimension of the project and a shared commitment to safer and more inclusive youth sport across Europe.

The Final Transnational Project Meeting in Rijeka represented not only the formal conclusion of the EPIK Sport project, but also a starting point for the future dissemination and adoption of its methodology, aiming to leave a lasting legacy in the European sports landscape.