ICPESS 2026 – 34th International Congress on Physical Education & Sport Science

Announcements

Latest announcements for the 34th International Congress on Physical Education & Sport Science

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE EXTENSION

The Abstract Submission deadline is extended to April 5, 2026.

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President's greeting

Dear friends of the Conference of the Department of Physical Education & Sport Science of the Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH),

It is with great pleasure that I announce the 34th International Congress on Physical Education and Sport Science, which will take place from May 15 to May 17, 2026, in Komotini, under the theme:
“Strength as the Foundation of Athletic Performance.”

At this year’s congress, the Department of Physical Education & Sport Science has the honor of welcoming and awarding distinguished guests: Pyrros Dimas, four-time Olympic medalist; Michalis Mouroutsos, Olympic gold medalist in Sydney 2000; and Maria Papamarkou, President of the Lyceum of Greek Women (Athens Central Lyceum).

Honorary Awards

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Pyrros Dimas

As part of the 34th International Congress on Physical Education and Sport Science, the iconic figure of Greek sport and global weightlifting, Pyrros Dimas, will be honored.

Michalis Mouroutsos

As part of the 34th International Congress on Physical Education and Sport Science, Michalis Mouroutsos will be honored for his outstanding achievements and his lasting contribution to the history of Greek sport.

Thanasis Pragalos

This year, the Organizing Committee awards the “Nikos Samaras” Award to Thanasis Pragalos for his pivotal contribution to the development and advancement of Taekwondo at both European and global levels.

Maria Papamarkou

As part of the 34th International Congress on Physical Education and Sport Science, Maria Papamarkou will be honored, as a representative of the Lyceum of Greek Women, in recognition of its valuable and long-standing contribution.

The Institution

Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH)

Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH) was established in July 1973 by Legislative Decree No. 87 of 27 July 1973, and started operating during the academic year 1974-1975. It was named “Democritus” in honor of the ancient Greek philosopher Democritus, who hailed from the town of Abdera in Thrace.

The administration of DUTH is headquartered in Komotini, which is the capital city of the Administrative Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

The Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH) currently operates 10 Schools and 31 Departments across five cities in Thrace: Komotini, Xanthi, Alexandroupoli, Drama, Kavala, Didymoteicho, and Orestiada. The university hosts a student population of over 40,000.

The University plays a significant role in strengthening the national and cultural identity of the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region and contributes to the high standards of higher education in Greece. Through the quality of its teaching and the level of its research, it has secured a position among the top Greek universities.

As a Higher Education Institution, DUTH is a Public Entity with complete autonomy that is supervised and funded by the State through the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs.

The Department of Physical Education and Sport Science

The mission of the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science encompasses the following main objectives:

to cultivate and promote the Science of Physical Education and Sport through academic and applied teaching and research.
to provide its graduates with adequate knowledge that will ensure their integrated proficiency for their scientific and professional career.
to contribute to the development of sports in Greece and at the same time to cultivate and propagate the athletic ideal all over Greece.
to raise public awareness regarding the importance of physical education as a crucial factor contributing to the improvement of their standard.

For more information visit our websites: http://www.phyed.duth.gr

Venue

The Congress is held in facilities of the School of Physical Education, Sport Science and Occupational Therapy of the Democritus University of Thrace.

Since the academic year 2007-09, the School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences has been transferred to a new owned establishment (~15.000m2) at the Democritus University Campus.

The new building has 6 teaching halls, 2 amphitheatres, a new ultramodern laboratory space, teaching and research staff offices and the Secretariat office.

In neighboring autonomous buildings, the rehabilitation center (521 m2) and the library (1008 m2) are housed including also the reading space for students of disabilities, and the computer rooms.

The transfer of the School to its new installation enhanced the dynamic of this International Congress, while the new space and environment provided with limitless possibilities for delegates to interact efficiently and develop new collaborations by participating in more than one sessions.

Directions

You may get to Komotini by:

Car: Komotini is situated 850 klm from Athens (this means that someone may need to travel about 8 hours by car) and 276 klm from Thessaloniki (this means that someone may need to drive for 2,5 hours). There are buses both from Athens to Komotini and from Thessaloniki to Komotini.

Railway: There is a rail connection between Komotini and Thessaloniki and Athens, however the rail connection reaches Drama and from there onwards passengers continue by OSE buses to Komotini.

Plane: Although Komotini does not have an airport, the closest airports are situated to Alexandroupolis (56klm from Komotini, telephone number of the Alexandroupoli’s airport: 0030 25510-89300) and to Kavala (146 klm from Komotini, telephone number of the airport: 0030 25910-53409).

Useful telephone numbers: