ParaVolley promoted at Scandinavium in Göteborg

Soon, Sweden will step onto the court against Montenegro at Scandinavium for their opening match at the CEV Trendyol EuroVolley 2026 Women. But already on Tuesday, a group of newly introduced players stepped onto that same court to try out para volleyball.

"The goal is for more people to become aware of para volleyball," says the project manager for ParaVolley Sweden, Anna Walther.

Fourteen participants from the day activity centre Idrottsplatsen gathered in a circle between the three-metre line and the baseline, alongside the championship logo in white against the turquoise floor. Two players from Gothia Volleyball Club demonstrated how to perform a dig and a set. The club is a partner association in the para volleyball initiative the federation launched last year. The initiative's main task is to create a model for how the country's volleyball clubs can start teams for people with physical or intellectual disabilities. Tuesday's taster session will be followed up in autumn with further training sessions, hand in hand with the aforementioned volleyball club.

One person considering coming back in autumn is Mirna Hermansson. She says her favourite player in beach volleyball is David Åhman, while her favourite player in traditional volleyball is Isabelle Haak. On Friday, Haak will step onto the same court where Mirna has been trying out para volleyball.

"It feels magical to me"

Idrottsplatsen, the day activity centre Mirna is part of, will be volunteering during Sweden's opening match. During the evening, they will talk about Para Volley Sweden's commitment to enabling more clubs to offer standing and sitting para volleyball, as well as when people can come and try the sport.

If you Google "para volleyball," what usually comes up is sitting volleyball, the type featured on the Paralympic programme. Three decades ago, Sweden had a national team competing in the sport. After competing at the 1996 Paralympics, the national team activity - and club-level participation - was put on ice. Now, some 30 years later, a new discipline has emerged in which people with intellectual disabilities have a natural place: standing para volleyball. Norway, Sweden's neighbour to the west, recognised the need early on and has succeeded in creating a model for how the country's clubs can offer standing para volleyball, something that has led to the country having a nationwide league for the sport.

"We see this in a positive light, which is why we are collaborating with each other," Anna Walther concludes.