On the 9^th of December, a webinar was held as part of the European Week of Winter Sport (EWWS), which provided an overview of this exciting initiative, bringing together key stakeholders from Slovenia’s sports and educational sectors.

The webinar was held in the Slovenian language, aiming to inform the local communities, sports organizations, educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, and other interested parties about different winter sport initiatives. During the event, the main concepts of the project were presented, as well as examples of good practice from previous and upcoming events, connections with other initiatives, and links to the upcoming Winter Olympic Games.

The session featured presentations by Andrej Pisl from the European University Sports Association (EUSA) and EUSA Institute, Martin Tus from the Olympic Committee of Slovenia (OKS), Zan Kralj from the Skiing Association of Slovenia (SZS), and Mojca Rupert from the University of Ljubljana (UL).

Andrej Pisl opened the webinar by presenting the main aims of the EWWS project, explaining the reasons behind its creation, and outlining the goals and expected outcomes of the initiative. He highlighted the importance of promoting winter sports across Europe, fostering inclusivity, and encouraging everyone to engage in physical activity (also) during the winter season. In addition, he shared the new dates for the upcoming edition of the EWWS - February 1-8, inviting all interested parties to join the initiative while emphasizing the continued growth and impact of the project across Europe.

Martin Tus then provided a detailed overview of the Olympic Committee of Slovenia, its role in supporting sports development, and the variety of events it organizes. He placed particular focus on the Winter Olympic Festival, describing the festival program and the unique opportunities it offers for athletes, sports enthusiasts, municipalities, and educational institutions. Martin elaborated on how the festival not only promotes winter sports and Winter Olympics but also encourages community engagement and cooperation among local stakeholders. He also provided insights into the festival locations and explained the strategic planning behind the 2026 edition of this initiative, showcasing how the project is designed to grow in scale and impact over time.

Zan Kralj presented the “Student on Skis” project, emphasizing its inclusive and equal approach to winter sports. This initiative's goal is to provide more than 10,000 school children every year with the opportunity to experience snow, skiing and other winter activities, introducing them to healthy outdoor lifestyles from a young age. Zan highlighted the positive feedback received from participants, teachers, schools and local communities. He also underscored the project’s commitment to accessibility, ensuring that children from diverse backgrounds can benefit from these experiences.

Finally, Mojca Rupert shared the contribution of the University of Ljubljana’s Center for Extracurricular Activities to the EWWS project. She detailed the various activities offered to students during the winter season, including Alpine skiing, ice skating, cross country skiing and other winter outdoor events. Mojca emphasized the value of these initiatives in promoting student engagement, fostering social connections, and encouraging active lifestyles. She also discussed future plans for expanding student involvement, ensuring that the university continues to play a key role in supporting the goals of the EWWS project.

After the previous editions of the webinar were targetting wider audience across Europe, this online event provided a comprehensive overview of the European Week of Winter Sport (EWWS) and ongoing initiatives on a local level in Slovenia, highlighting the collaborative efforts of multiple organizations to promote winter sports, inclusivity and active lifestyles. It provided some good practice examples and showcasing the ongoing commitment to making winter sports accessible and enjoyable for all.

For more information about the EWWS project, please see https://wintersportweek.com. We invite sports federations, clubs, educational institutions, local communities, NGOs and other interested parties to organise events during the European Week of Winter Sport (February 1-8), and register the events on the project platform. Events held in Europe and registered by December 31 will receive special promotion and support also within the project partnership!