Sporty diversity in the waking bike: inclusion that inspires!

Sporty diversity in the waking bike: inclusion that inspires!

Wachaubad Melk, 3390 Melk, Österreich - A sporting morning full of joy and warmth recently took place in the Wachaubad Melk, where around 45 children with impairments from the special schools in Loosdorf and Ybbs had the opportunity to do sports under the motto "Wachaubad inclusion". The event, which was organized by Peter Kadletz from the Austrian water rescue Melk, Maria Sarma from the Austrian Disabled Sports Association and Karin Sperl, the director of the Loosdorf special school, offered the children a varied program.

The little athletes went through four stations: In the 25-meter pool under the guidance of the parasory coach Andreas Steiner, the children swam with enthusiasm. In the non -swimmer pool, a challenging course with buoy and swimming boards was waiting for you. If you wanted to test the accuracy, you could try the Boccia station, guided by movement coach Nadine Fischl. The crowning glory was an exciting football tournament. Each of the participating children received a certificate that recognized their commitment.

accessibility and commitment

The importance of accessibility is increasingly recognized in Austria. The Wachaubad Melk meets these requirements and is equipped with a lift for wheelchair users. In his speech, Mayor Patrick Strobl praised the initiative and emphasized the importance of parasport, which has put special focus on inclusion. "It is essential that every child has the chance to discover the movement space of water," explains the mayor. This view is also a fundamental conviction in the area of inclusive swimming. Each child should have the opportunity to experience the element of water regardless of physical or mental impairments.

The German Swimming Association emphasizes that there are many including swimming offers, but they are not available across the board in Germany. Therefore, the sensitization of instructors and trainers is of great importance to reduce these obstacles. The commitment and motivation of the trainers are crucial to introduce children to water safely and confidently. In the background there are strong role models that prove that disability is not an obstacle to swimming. Athletes such as Taliso Engel and Maike Naomi Schwarz show that inclusive training works and successes are possible.

Inclusion and competitive sports

But inclusion goes beyond the leisure area. The participation of athletes with disabilities must also be guaranteed in competitive sports. Inclusion efforts in Austria were already anchored in the Federal Sports Promotion Act (BSFG) in 2013, with the aim of creating equivalent access to sport for everyone. The UN Convention on the Rights of Disabilities, which has been in force in Austria since 2008, promotes this new understanding of disabilities that is socially oriented. All people, regardless of a disability, should have the same opportunities in sport.

In recent years, numerous milestones have already been set: from the first award "Disabled athlete of the Year" in 2001 to the full equality of athletes with and without disabilities in the army sports centers in 2021. The path to international equality in sport is to be continued in order to further reduce barriers and overcome prejudices.

The sporty morning in the Wachaubad Melk not only represents a great leisure activity, but is also an important step towards inclusion in sport, which is carried by everyone involved with enthusiasm and commitment. It remains to be hoped that such events will open school gates and further promote the acceptance of impairments in everyday life.