Wheelchair handball in Dudelange originated from an experience abroad. During several years in Scotland, Kristina Gavrilova worked in the field of disability and observed the central role that adapted team sports play in the social lives of people.

Upon returning to Luxembourg, the contrast was striking. Inclusive sports opportunities, particularly in team sports, remain limited. Some people with disabilities have very few opportunities to engage in team based activities, while traditional sports structures often remain compartmentalised. This marked the starting point of the project: to offer a structured, accessible and inclusive activity.

Launched within the Handball Diddeleng club, wheelchair handball is based on a simple principle: bringing together people with reduced mobility, able bodied players and women within the same team. The group was formed in part through cooperation with the association Back2Sport, which promotes inclusive sport. Thanks to this partnership, several players with and without disabilities joined the team, creating a diverse sporting dynamic from the outset.

Over time, a collective dynamic develops. The court becomes a space where everyone can find their place, develop their abilities and build connections.

However, setting up the activity required overcoming several challenges, particularly in terms of funding specialised equipment. The acquisition of sports wheelchairs, essential for practice but representing a significant financial investment, required active efforts to secure partners and support. In this respect, the grant from the Fondation de l’Œuvre Nationale marked a decisive turning point, making it possible to establish a solid material foundation for the initiative.

The impact quickly becomes visible, both collectively and individually. One participant with reduced mobility, who had previously been only marginally involved in group activities, gradually integrated into the team, started attending training regularly and developed new social connections. These developments confirm the role of sport as a driver of confidence, engagement and well being.

Since September 2025, participation in a championship has marked a new milestone. It has helped to further structure the activity, set shared goals and highlight the commitment of the players. Representing the club in a competitive setting strengthens both motivation and a sense of belonging.

Today, the ambition is to consolidate this momentum and anchor it sustainably within Luxembourg’s sports landscape. In the medium term, the objective is to develop two complementary teams — one focused on recreational practice, the other on competition — while maintaining shared training sessions in line with the project’s inclusive spirit.

Through wheelchair handball, Dudelange is choosing a form of sport that brings people together without erasing differences. A practice where diversity is not an obstacle but a defining feature of collective play, demonstrating how sport can act as a powerful driver of social connection and change.