A great sports festival a Messina dedicated to teenagers, boys and young people who with their determination, audacity, the desire to self-determine, are the confirmation that disability is only in the eyes of those who see it. It took place this afternoon in Piazza Duomo la Paralympic Sports Caravan, final manifestation of the initiatives dedicated to International Disability Day which is celebrated on December 3, organized byUniversity of Messina, with the Municipality, the Messina Social City and the provincial delegations of the Coni and the Paralympic Committee (Cip). Many children and young people present, with athletes and instructors, to approach the various sports specialties for which various test sectors have been set up: from 5-a-side football, tennis, table tennis and archery, to canoeing and rowing, basketball and volleyball, up to athletics, jazzercise and powerlifting.
The European basketball champion was the exceptional testimonial of the event Simona Cascio and the rowing gold medal Giovanni Ficarra, who with their presence wanted to confirm the beauty of diversity, enclosed in the happy eyes of those who, thanks to this initiative, have tasted the value and responsibility of “teaming up”. Sport and disability: a fundamental combination on which there is still a lot to do: in Italy motor disabled people who practice a sport are only 20%, the remaining 80% are psychic or sensory disabled; among these, moreover, only those with medium or low disabilities, who show particular aptitudes, continue the Paralympic activity.
“It is not easy to make these subjects approach sport, often we have to face the distrust of families who are not aware of our commitment”, declared the provincial delegate of the Cip Francesco Giorgio. A few days ago two agreements were signed with the ASP and with the neurolesi IRCCS, while from January 2022 projects will start that will involve local schools (the first to join are the comprehensive La Pira Gentiluomo, Pascoli Crispi and Catalfamo).
Particularly satisfied was the delegate of the Rector for Disability and DSA Fiammetta Conforto, who reiterated the University of Messina’s attention to inclusion paths that “cannot be separated from the practice of Sport”; the councilor for social policies of the municipality Alessandra Calafiore she said she was happy with this institutional synergy which continues to focus on young people and the disabled.
Me too’archbishop Giovanni Accolla wanted to show his closeness to the Municipality and the University with a message that Calafiore herself shared with all those present: “Recognizing the beauty of human nature in diversity through paths of inclusion and sharing is a commitment that recalls the consciences of each us with people, but above all as Christians “. The provincial president of the Panathlon Club of Messina, lawyer Nino La Rosa, also took part in the event.
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