Rotterdam is currently staging the inaugural edition of the EPC with the first medals awarded today in Para judo.

The Dutch city is also set to play host to representatives of cities looking to potentially hold the continental multi-sport event in four years' time.

Interested parties are expected to attend an observer programme on Saturday (August 12) and Sunday (August 13).

EPC founder Eric Kersten told insidethegames that eight countries have "shown serious interest" in bidding for the 2027 edition.

"We are an inclusive event which is important and hopefully we can inspire those eight countries to come up with a bid," said Kersten.

"The bidding procedure closes on December 20 this year and they are all aware of that."

Gerrit Middag, who is in charge of international relations and the tendering process for the 2027 EPC, said he had been encouraged by the amount of interest in the event.

"When we tendered for 2023, we only had two-and-a-years of preparation time whereas now we have four-and-a-half years," Middag told insidethegames.

"The invitations were sent to all the EPC members in January and you also speak to a lot of countries that are looking for major sporting events.

"That has resulted in having the eight countries here next Saturday."

Representatives from the eight countries are set to be given a tour of the Rotterdam Ahoy before holding face-to-face meetings with EPC officials this weekend.

They are then expected to file bid documents before the end of the year with the winning candidate due to be announced in May 2024.

Para archery, Para badminton, boccia, Para cycling, goalball, Para judo, shooting Para sports, Para taekwondo, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis are featuring at this year’s EPC.

Middag said he was confident that all 10 sports would remain on the programme and revealed that the EPC was in talks with "three to five" others to join in 2027.

"We are quite sure that at least three new sports will come in as the feedback has been very good and there will also be a possibility for the host city to add sports," said Middag.

"For example, if it was in Cardiff, it would make sense for wheelchair rugby to be in, so the city can say that we have an interest in a particular sport.

"We would then have three-and-a-half years to make it happen."

Middag refused to rule out the possibility of adding athletics and swimming but admitted the EPC was "not looking at those sports today" due to their size.

"For the balance of the sports that are in today, it would differ a lot if athletics and swimming came in," added Middag.

"Now, we have 1,500 athletes but when a sport like athletics comes in it would double or maybe triple the number of athletes.

"We are aiming for three sports that will add value without touching the cities that are capable of hosting.

"If we brought in athletics and swimming it would exclude a lot of cities that are bidding because of the size.

"If the city insists that they want them in, then it’s a different ball game but we would still need to find an agreement."