The International Launch Webinar for the European Week of Winter Sport (EWWS 2026) took place on October 8, 2025, gathering over 100 participants from across Europe. Hosted by L’ORMA in collaboration with the European Commission, the event marked an important milestone in the journey toward EWWS 2026 — an initiative that promotes active lifestyles, community spirit, and environmental awareness through winter sports.
The session opened with a warm welcome from Sara Brivio, EWWS Project Manager at L’ORMA, and Ariadni Chorti, Project Officer at the European Commission, who highlighted the growing importance of seasonal sport participation across Europe.
The discussion then explored how the European Week of Sport has evolved into a winter counterpart, thanks to contributions from Juan Martorell (Spanish High Council of Sport) and Réka Veress (HEPA Europe & European Week of Sport Coordinator).
Representing the athletic and grassroots perspective, Sebastian Brigović (Ski Club Rijeka) shared insights into the unique spirit of winter sports, while Mojca Rupert (University of Ljubljana & EUSA) and Philipp Brüggen (Ice Dippers Berlin) presented local success stories from the first EWWS edition — from cross-country skiing and ice skating to ice bathing.
The official partners for EWWS 2026 were also introduced, including the Federació d’Entitats Excursionistes de Catalunya (FEEC) in collaboration with the Kilian Jornet Foundation, represented by Miriam Gonzalez, emphasizing inclusivity, nature, and sustainability in sport.
In closing, Paolo Menescardi, President of L’ORMA, outlined upcoming roles and opportunities for those wishing to engage as official partners or event organizers in their regions.
The event concluded with a shared call to action: to continue building an active, connected, and environmentally conscious Europe — one winter step at a time.
