March 4 – The Romanian Football Federation (FRF) has launched two new European Union-funded projects, bringing its total number of implemented or ongoing initiatives to more than 30. Both projects – ELEVATE and TALENT – are aligned with the FRF’s strategy to promote inclusion and accessibility in football.
ELEVATE (Experiential Learning for Enhanced Venue Accessibility Through AI-Assisted Training for Stadium Personnel) was officially kicked off with an online opening meeting, marking the beginning of a new European initiative focused on innovation in stadium staff training. The Romanian Football Federation serves as the lead partner, overseeing project management and reporting to the European Commission.
The project brings together a diverse consortium of European partners, including CAFE, Integrated Dreams, LTT Sports, Campus AI, the French Professional Football League, the Romanian Football Federation, and the Slovenian Ministry of Sport.
Together, they will develop, test, and validate an interactive digital training programme for stadium personnel – including stewards, security staff, ticketing and hospitality teams – delivered through a dedicated platform accessible to leagues and clubs across Europe and beyond.
Funded under the EU’s Erasmus+ Sport programme, ELEVATE aims to professionalise and modernise stadium staff training through a needs-based curriculum, translated into video materials and interactive animated content. The programme will also incorporate 3D elements and stadium models to raise training standards and enhance the spectator experience.
TALENT (Triggering Awareness and Collaboration through football) was launched at its opening meeting held on February 11-12, 2026 in Vilnius, Lithuania. The 36-month initiative is dedicated to promoting the social inclusion of people with disabilities through football.
The project consortium includes the Football Associations of Slovenia, Serbia, Latvia, and Lithuania’s Grassroots Football Association, alongside the Romanian Football Federation, Para Football Foundation, ForModena, and the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, with UEFA participating as a supporting partner institution.
TALENT goes beyond simply improving access to sport. It will develop a dedicated educational programme for coaches working with people with disabilities, create community engagement activities that foster interaction between people with and without disabilities, and launch a communication campaign aimed at combating stereotypes and contributing to a shift in social norms across Europe.
Also funded through the Erasmus+ Sport programme, TALENT is aligned with the EU Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021–2030.
Contact the writer of this story, Aleksander Krassimirov, at [email protected]