Bucharest becomes the center of adapted sports at the beginning of this autumn. Between September 1 and 5, the capital hosts the inaugural edition of the Romania Parasport Games 2026, a major event bringing ten Paralympic disciplines together under the same competitive banner for the first time. Over 300 athletes and more than 500 participants—including coaches, officials, technical staff members, and delegations—gather for a multi-sport marathon held across seven sports venues in the city.

The occasion carries deep symbolic weight backed by clear legislation: September 1 officially became National Paralympic Sport Day in Romania under Law no. 72/2026. Organized by the National Paralympic Committee, the competition marks the first official celebration of this date through a premier sporting event, offering free public admission to all participating arenas.

Ten disciplines and world-class athletes across Bucharest arenas

The competitive lineup features diverse, fast-paced sports: para table tennis, para swimming, para athletics, para powerlifting, 3x3 wheelchair basketball, para archery, adapted judo, wheelchair tennis, para climbing, and para canoe. The action kicks off on Tuesday, September 1, at the Romanian Tennis Federation's National Tennis Center with the first wheelchair tennis matches, followed by para athletics training sessions at the "Iolanda Balaș Soter" Stadium.

The roster includes top names from the international Paralympic scene. Bobi Simion, world leader in the ITTF World Para Class 6 rankings and a three-time Paralympian, enters the para table tennis competition on September 2 at CS Olimpia Bucharest, with the final scheduled for the following day. In para climbing, 2025 Seoul world champion Răzvan Nedu will tackle the routes at Vertical Spirit gym during the September 3 qualifiers and the September 4 final. The para athletics javelin throw event features Octavian Tucaliuc, 6th-place finisher at the 2025 New Delhi World Championships and Tokyo 2020 Paralympian.

They are joined by other prominent athletes: Petru Pungă (3x3 wheelchair basketball), Dumitru Șandru (para canoe), Anda-Valentina Arghir (para archery), Adrian Moldoveanu (para powerlifting), and Flavian Crăciun (wheelchair tennis).

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Renowned champions as ambassadors and the MINA Museum opening ceremony

The athletes' performances are championed by prominent figures in Romanian sports who have stepped in as ambassadors for the featured disciplines. Alina Dumitru, Olympic gold medalist in judo, supports the Adapted Judo athletes on September 5 at Sala Olimpia, while Violeta Beclea-Székely, Olympic silver medalist at Sydney 2000, serves as ambassador for the para athletics events at the "Iolanda Balaș Soter" Stadium. Multiple world champion Cătălin Chirilă promotes the para canoe competition scheduled for September 5 on the lake in Alexandru Ioan Cuza (IOR) Park, and Virgil Stănescu, former captain of Romania's national basketball team, stands alongside the 3x3 wheelchair basketball teams at the FRB Basketball Arena.

The games take place across seven key venues in the capital: Iolanda Balaș Soter Stadium, National Tennis Center, CS Olimpia Bucharest, FRB Basketball Arena, CSN Lia Manoliu, Vertical Spirit climbing gym, and Alexandru Ioan Cuza (IOR) Park.

The official opening ceremony is scheduled for September 3 at MINA Museum, starting at 7:00 PM, with sports officials and local authorities in attendance. Speakers at the ceremony include Eduard Novak, President of the National Paralympic Committee, Raymon Blondel, President of the European Paralympic Committee (EPC), and Ciprian Ciucu, General Mayor of Bucharest.

"The first edition of the Parasport Games is the initial step of a project built with a long-term vision. Paralympic sport requires strong competitions, as well as visibility and backing from those who can contribute to its growth. Through this edition, we aim to bring Paralympic performance closer to the public while building a framework that provides athletes with expanding competitive opportunities. The Parasport Games are not conceived as a one-off event, but as the foundation of a format destined to become a true benchmark in Romanian sports," stated Eduard Novak, President of the National Paralympic Committee and Paralympic champion.