The final conference of the Erasmus+ Sport project Runners4All took place on 9 June 2026 in a hybrid format, bringing together project partners, stakeholders, students, and representatives of sport and public institutions from across Europe.

The event was hosted at the headquarters of Timing Ljubljana for Slovenian partners, while other participants joined online, ensuring broad participation and engagement. The conference served as the concluding event of the project, providing an opportunity to present its achievements, educational resources, and future perspectives.

The Runners4All project brought together 15 European countries and 17 partner organisations from the fields of university sport, education, and sports event management, united by a common goal: encouraging more young people to engage in regular physical activity and participate safely in running events.

The project culminated with the first European Students Run, held as part of the NLB Ljubljana Marathon, where 1,717 students crossed the finish line, representing 39 countries. The initiative will continue in October 2026 with the second edition of the European Students Run in Ljubljana. Together, they created one of the largest international student sports gatherings in Europe, demonstrating that running can serve as a powerful platform for connecting young people, promoting health, and fostering intercultural cooperation.

To open the conference, Marusa Penzes, Ales Solar and Ziga Cerne from Timing Ljubljana and Matjaz Pecovnik, Secretary General of EUSA, welcomed and addressed the participants, reflecting on the project's contribution to increasing physical activity opportunities for students and strengthening cooperation among organisations working in the fields of sport and education.

Participants were introduced to the educational materials developed for students and recreational runners, alongside a set of recommendations aimed at helping organisers create more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable running events in the future. The conference also presented the future of the initiative through the European Students Run, which will continue as a key legacy of the Runners4All project.

The event also brought together additional representatives from Timing Ljubljana, University of Ljubljana, the Municipality of Ljubljana, and the European University Sports Association, further underlining the importance of cross-sector collaboration in promoting healthy lifestyles and active participation through sport.

A key part of the programme focused on the future legacy of the project, including information about the planned European Students Run 2026 and opportunities to build upon the project's achievements beyond its official duration, presented by Andrej Pisl, EUSA Director Projects and Policy. In order to better support the community and student population's needs, additional research is still being carried out - both on the level of individuals as well as event organisers.

The next edition will take place on 17-18 October 2026 as part of the 30th NLB Ljubljana Marathon, with registrations already surpassing 1,000 students and expectations of even stronger international participation and student engagement across Europe.

Discussions that followed highlighted the potential for continued development of student running initiatives around Europe and the importance of creating welcoming environments that encourage participation in physical activity.

The conference concluded with a summary of the project's impact and lessons learned, emphasising how Runners4All has contributed to promoting running as an accessible and inclusive activity for students and the wider community. Through its educational resources, practical recommendations, and strong partnership network, the project leaves a valuable legacy that will continue to support the development of university sport and recreational running across Europe through the next editions of the European Students Run.

Co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Sport programme, Runners4All has demonstrated the power of international cooperation in fostering healthier lifestyles, increasing participation in sport, and strengthening connections between students, institutions, and local communities.

For more information and to access the resources, please see https://ljubljanskimaraton.si/en/european-students-run-runners4all and https://www.eusa.eu/projects/runners4all