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The educational project “WHAT INCLUSIVE SPORT” which the University of the Free Age of Mugello carried out for a few days, through funding from the Health Society, in the Firenzuola Comprehensive Institute, ended in December. It was a process agreed with the school institution through the sports representatives of the three school levels, with the parents’ council and with Officine Giovani in the area. All primary school children and lower secondary school children, for a total of 240 students, had the opportunity to participate in the workshops managed by three specialized instructors from the Real Eyes Sport Association. These, specialized in baseball, football and athletics, made the students experience, through activities and games relating to these disciplines, the point of view of their blind peers and those with physical disabilities.
During the meetings, in fact, the participants had the opportunity to experiment with adapted sports disciplines by simulating a temporary condition of blindness and/or low vision (thanks to the use of special masks provided by the association), guided by their companions. This activity naturally stimulates the development of internal resources that are often not activated and also favors the development of a classroom climate oriented towards trust in others and inclusion, focusing on the importance of collaboration and mutual help. The path represented a way to leverage emotional involvement and the acquisition of awareness, thus allowing us to overcome certain patterns of thought and behavior and thus bringing out new ways of approaching fragility, naturally developing empathy to understand.
It is therefore very important to conceive sporting activity not only as a physical practice, but also as a cultural dimension of civic life, an environment suited to meeting and overcoming prejudices and stereotypes, a space to overcome any type of discrimination and in which to grow the sense of citizenship. Raising awareness among sports operators, managers, coaches and trainers about some issues relating to the inclusion of children and young people, enhancing diversity in sports practices, is increasingly an objective of contemporary society.
The dimension of physical activity stimulates relationships and dialogue between peers, the beauty of being together, knowledge of oneself and others and can represent an important educational tool for the prevention of social and psychophysical discomfort. Knowing a different point of view, meeting testimonials of good practices, was an opportunity to reflect, discuss and remodulate the sports offer according to criteria of hospitality and collaboration.
2024-01-30 20:56:02
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