Inclusive Ski Sarajevo 2026 on Bjelašnica: Inclusion in sports as a standard, not an exception
Today, the implementation of the Inclusive Ski Sarajevo 2026 project began on the Olympic mountain of Bjelašnica, a strong initiative aimed at developing inclusive sports and improving the quality of life of people with disabilities. The program will be implemented on 24 and 25 February 2026, from 9:30 to 14:30, as free skiing training for people with disabilities, with professional guidance and the application of modern methods in the field of adapted physical activity (APA).
Twenty people with developmental disabilities, who use wheelchairs or have difficulty moving, were given the opportunity to experience the joy of being on the snow and actively participating in winter sports for the first time. Through a carefully adapted and safe program, participants were provided with the experience of skiing with the support of educated instructors and experts, confirming sport as a powerful tool for social inclusion, empowerment and equal opportunities.
Dr. sci. Denis Čaušević, Senior Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Sarajevo, emphasized that the first day of the Inclusive Ski Sarajevo 2026 project was extremely successful.
“Today, ten children with disabilities stepped on skis for the first time, and their smiles and enthusiasm are the best confirmation of how much such programs mean to children and their families,” said Dr. Čaušević, emphasizing that the strategic goal of the project is to make inclusion in sports the standard and that every child has the opportunity to be active and involved. He expressed special gratitude to the domestic and international partners, who with their knowledge and experience in the field of adapted physical activity make a significant contribution to the implementation of the project.
“This is the first step towards establishing a permanent model of an inclusive ski school in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Čaušević.
The organizers’ goal is for Inclusive Ski Sarajevo to grow into a self-sustainable and continuous program of a regular inclusive ski school for children with disabilities, which would make sport a permanent space of belonging, development and equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The project has a special social significance for the Sarajevo Canton and represents an important step towards the systemic development of inclusive sports practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The project is being implemented in partnership with the University of Sarajevo, the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education of the University of Sarajevo, ATUS BiH, the Faculty of Physical Education of the Palacký University in Olomouc, the KJP ZOI '84, the Olympic Center Bjelašnica and Igman, and the association "Dajte nam šansu". It is a continuation of successful international cooperation and knowledge exchange in the field of inclusive sports, which connects the academic community, public institutions and civil society organizations with the aim of creating concrete and sustainable solutions.
With this project, the University of Sarajevo once again confirms its social responsibility and clear commitment to contributing to the building of a more inclusive and just society through concrete initiatives, putting knowledge, expertise and partnerships at the service of the public interest.
