IDO CELEBRATES DANCE, INCLUSION AND FRIENDSHIP AT THE 3RD TAFISA EUROPEAN SPORT FOR ALL GAMES 2026

Limerick, Ireland – August 2026 – The International Dance Organization (IDO) proudly participated in the 3rd TAFISA European Sport for All Games 2026, held in Limerick, Ireland, from 6–11 August 2026, joining communities and delegations from across Europe in a celebration of movement, culture, inclusion and friendship.

Hosted by Limerick Sports Partnership, in collaboration with Sport Ireland and a wide network of national and local partners, the Games brought together people of different ages, backgrounds and cultures under the shared values of Sport for All.

IDO was represented in Limerick by Patrik Peroša, Gašper Kožar, Anže Finkšt and Gaynor Johnson Košuta, who actively contributed to the programme and represented the organization and the international dance community throughout the Games.

The event also carried particular significance for IDO through the presence of IDO Senior Vice President Fiona Johnson, who serves as a member of the TAFISA Board of Directors, further strengthening the connection between IDO and the international Sport for All movement.

Throughout the week, Limerick became a meeting point for European sporting and cultural traditions. The programme featured traditional, emerging and recreational sports alongside cultural activities, dance performances, workshops and festivals taking place across the city and county.

Local clubs, schools, communities and international delegations participated in a unique environment where sport went beyond competition and became a powerful instrument for participation, cultural exchange and connection.

IDO Bringing Dance to the Sport for All Community

The International Dance Organization was actively represented throughout the Games through numerous dance workshops, with Patrik Peroša, Gašper Kožar, Anže Finkšt and Gaynor Johnson Košuta sharing their knowledge, experience and passion for dance with people of all ages across Limerick.

IDO’s participation reflected one of the fundamental qualities of dance: its ability to bring people together regardless of age, nationality, experience or background.

Through workshops and shared dance experiences, participants were encouraged not only to discover different forms of movement but also to communicate, interact and create connections through dance.

A particularly memorable moment came on the final evening of the Games, when delegations from across Europe joined the IDO group dance.

What began as a dance activity quickly became something much greater – people from different countries moving together, sharing the same rhythm and celebrating side by side.

It was a powerful representation of the philosophy behind Sport for All and of IDO’s belief that dance can create meaningful connections between people and cultures.

Most importantly, the experience resulted in new friendships, formed through a shared passion for movement, dance and Sport for All.

Strengthening IDO's Presence in the International Sport for All Movement

IDO's participation in Limerick also reflected the organization's growing engagement within the global Sport for All community.

With IDO Senior Vice President Fiona Johnson serving on the TAFISA Board of Directors, IDO continues to contribute to international dialogue and cooperation surrounding participation, accessibility, inclusion and the development of sport and physical activity.

This connection creates further opportunities to demonstrate the important role dance can play within the wider sporting community – not only as a competitive discipline, but also as an accessible activity that promotes physical movement, creativity, social interaction and cultural exchange.

Dance as a Universal Language

IDO’s presence in Limerick once again demonstrated that dance has an important place within the international Sport for All movement.

Beyond championships, medals and competitive stages, dance is also about participation, health, education, culture, creativity and community. It provides an accessible form of movement capable of connecting generations and crossing cultural and linguistic boundaries.

The TAFISA European Sport for All Games provided an important platform for these values to be experienced in practice.

For IDO, participation in international initiatives of this kind represents another opportunity to promote dance globally while strengthening cooperation with organizations that share the commitment to making sport and physical activity accessible to everyone.

The 3rd TAFISA European Sport for All Games in Limerick concluded with more than memories of performances, workshops and sporting activities. It demonstrated what can happen when communities come together through movement.

IDO is proud to have been part of this European celebration and to have contributed its own universal language to the Games – the language of dance.

Different cultures. Different traditions. Different movements. One shared passion.

IDO – The World Dance and Dance Sport Organization.

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