(ANSA) – ROME, SEPTEMBER 13 – Bringing blind people closer to a sport that contributes to increasing autonomy and safety, as well as preparing new Italian athletes in view of the 2024 Paralympics: this is the aim of the Judo Academy project, presented today in Rome, in the Japanese Cultural Institute, by FISPIC (Italian Paralympic Sports Federation for the visually impaired and blind) and the OneSight Essilortuxottica Italia Foundation.
“The Judo Academy is an initiative created to spread the sporting practice of judo through organized itinerant rallies, so as to train blind and visually impaired athletes for the next Paralympics and to contribute to improving the social integration of blind people through involvement in the activity sports”, explains Sandro Di Girolamo, FISPIC president. After the first meeting in Turin last July, the next ones are scheduled for Milan in October 2023, Belluno in November 2023, Pescara and Genoa in 2024. During the meetings, in addition to the athletes’ sporting preparation, there will be demonstration sessions, open to all people who wish to approach the world of judo.
“I want to express my great sense of appreciation towards the work of FISPIC and the OneSight Essilortuxottica Italia Foundation – says the Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi via a video message – It is a collaboration that brings people closer to sport and improves the quality of life of the blind and of the visually impaired”. Judo, for Abodi, “is a fantastic discipline, which provides children with orientation and coordination, factors that are even more important for a visually impaired person”. Alessandra Locatelli, Minister for Disabilities, again with a video message, adds: “You demonstrate with commitment and perseverance that will is power, and that sport can teach you to change your life and face everything”.
Inside the Judo Academy “there is everything”, says CONI number one Giovanni Malagò remotely. “There is a private individual who lends a hand to those who play sports and have had less luck in life, without speculating, doing a concrete non-profit activity. I am happy that the OneSight Essilortuxottica Italia Foundation is interested in our world”. Domenico Falcone, president of FIJLKAM, believes that “judo and martial arts are ideal activities for developing balance in blind people”.
Marco Mezzaroma, president of Sport and Health, says remotely that “bringing inclusion to all areas of Italy is one of our tasks, which is why the Judo Academy initiative is particularly important. Even more than able-bodied athletes, the Paralympic athletes they teach how important sport is for our health. One euro spent on sport can be worth five saved for the national health service.” During the meeting, a demonstration session also took place, which saw Paralympic athletes such as Carolina Costa, and Olympic athletes such as Maria Centracchio (bronze at Tokyo 2020) compete.
2023-09-14 10:59:30
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