The 12th Emporion Games started in Olot on 15 May 2026, with a 3km and 6km walk for older residents and a multi-sport day for children. The opening day also included a round table discussion titled "Emporion Lives: Sport Has No Gender" at the Girona Provincial Council's Culture House.
Over the weekend, eight municipalities in the Garrotxa region will host 22 activities, mainly for children. The participating towns are Olot, les Preses, Sant Joan les Fonts, la Vall d’en Bas, la Vall de Bianya, Besalú, Santa Pau, and Argelaguer, which joined at the last minute to host part of Saturday's handball activities.
The Girona Provincial Council organises the event, with support from the Generalitat's Territorial Representation of Sport and technical coordination from the sports councils of the Girona counties. The games aim to promote sports culture and healthy habits among schoolchildren and the general public through competition and recreational sports activities.
Opening Events in Olot
The games kicked off at 10am with two simultaneous activities in Olot. An athletic gathering for older people took place at Parc Nou, while a multi-sport day for children was held at Parc Atlètic Tossols. Olot's mayor, Agustí Arbós, and Sports Councillor Aniol Sellabona, along with other officials from the Girona Provincial Council and the Garrotxa Sports Council, launched these sporting days.
In the afternoon, the focus shifted to Girona. For the second consecutive year, the Girona Provincial Council's Culture House hosted the "Emporion Lives" round table. Journalist Clara Jordan led the discussion, which centred on the role of women in contemporary sport.
Speakers included Anna Jòdar, physical trainer for Spar Girona (Women's Basketball League); Montse Hugas, former technical director of Salt Gimnàstic Club; and Irene Coll, personal trainer and researcher. The discussion was organised with the University of Girona's (UdG) Chair of Sport and Physical Education and will be broadcast later by TV Girona.
New Activities and Inclusivity
These events are the first of 22 activities, primarily aimed at children. Table tennis and a meeting for the "Més actius" (More Active) programme are new additions this year. This programme combats sedentary lifestyles and childhood obesity through free physical activity sessions. Other sports featured include volleyball, skating, rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, and athletics.
Saturday will see the "Barça activa’t" activity in les Preses, part of the FC Barcelona Foundation's social inclusion programme, which the Girona Provincial Council supports. On Sunday morning, Sant Joan les Fonts will host adapted football and basketball activities.
The Emporion Games started in Figueres in 2014. Over the previous eleven editions, they have brought together more than 50,000 participants from across the Girona province.
