Some weeks change the way we see the world. They break down barriers and show us that the only real limitations lie in our surroundings, never in people themselves. From Monday 18 to Saturday 23 May 2026, Seville became a European hub for inclusion, youth participation and adapted sport. Thanks to the partnership between the Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports of Sinop, Türkiye, and COCEMFE Sevilla, we shared several days filled with emotion, mutual learning and an unbreakable sense of fellowship.
During this landmark week, co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme, 15 young people from Türkiye joined 25 young people with disabilities from Seville and the surrounding province. Inmaculada Gamero, Gaetano Grassano, Carmen Márquez and David Iglesias, together with around twenty other participants from Seville, were the true protagonists of an experience shaped by emotion, teamwork and friendship, where inclusion became our shared language.
Monday 18 May: A Monumental Welcome
The magic began on Monday afternoon. What better place to welcome our guests than Seville’s iconic Plaza de España? Beneath the warm glow of an Andalusian sunset, the delegations from Sinop and Seville met for the first time. Shy glances soon turned into knowing smiles. There, among the majestic tiled alcoves and bridges, we formed the first genuine bond of the week: friendship.
Tuesday 19 May: Reflections of Inclusion
Full of energy, we sprang into action. The first sport on the programme was adapted table tennis. The paddles flew, reflexes sharpened and laughter echoed around the venue. Participants with disabilities from Seville, including Javier Seoane and Salvador Carabé, showed that talent and enjoyment know no labels when people gather around the table. It was a vibrant day that awakened the group’s healthy competitive spirit and demonstrated that every sporting discipline can be within everyone’s reach.
Wednesday 20 May: A Barrier-Free Journey Through History
At the midpoint of the week, we immersed ourselves in the city’s rich historical heritage. Together, we visited the impressive General Archive of the Indies, where we marvelled at documents that connected continents centuries ago, just as we were bringing cultures together in the present day. We then wandered through the charming maze of narrow streets in Seville’s historic Jewish Quarter. With its living legends and traditional character, the neighbourhood offered a powerful reminder that cultural tourism is a right that belongs to everyone.
Thursday 21 May: Wheels on the Court!
This was undoubtedly the day that set pulses racing. With the support of COCEMFE Sevilla’s own member organisations, we experienced the pure adrenaline of team sport. First came the tactical precision and speed of wheelchair basketball with CD BSR Vistazul. Then came the impact, strength and determination of wheelchair rugby with the unstoppable Dragones Quad Rugby team. Manuel Andrés Duque and Javier Torrado brought their energy to the court, showing the Turkish delegation that a passion for sport on wheels can become a powerful driving force for youth empowerment.
Friday 22 May: A Green-and-White Passion
Elite sport also had its place on our agenda. We spent the day visiting the impressive facilities used by Real Betis Balompié at La Cartuja Olympic Stadium. As the young participants explored the venue, they experienced the world of high-level sport at close quarters and reflected on values such as effort, perseverance and teamwork. These are essential foundations for the lives and personal development of people with disabilities.
Saturday 23 May: A Farewell to the Rhythm of the Drums
All good things must come to an end, but we chose to bring this experience to a close on a musical high note. The infectious rhythms and boundless energy of Bloco Suca Sevilla’s inclusive batucada took centre stage. The drums set the pace for an intercultural farewell filled with shared experiences, embraces and more than a few tears of emotion. By then, the young participants from Türkiye and Seville were no longer two separate delegations: they had become one European family.
At COCEMFE Sevilla, we know that this was much more than a week of activities. It was a genuine declaration of intent. Seeing young people take the lead in this exchange fills us with pride and reinforces our institutional mission: to promote autonomy, defend rights and foster the full participation of people with physical and organic disabilities in society. Physical borders can be crossed by plane, but the borders created by prejudice can only be broken down by sharing experiences and living together.
The spirit shown by these young people from both countries is the seed from which a more empathetic and just society will grow. That is why, today and always, the central purpose of this programme will remain our rallying cry:
SAY NO TO EXCLUDING! / ¡DI NO A LA EXCLUSIÓN!
You can view all the photographs from the week here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/w7mEDxDRZarmVwKu6