Over the past few years, Moscow has been actively working to create a barrier-free environment for people with disabilities. The next step to “breaking down barriers” is a pilot project that will be launched in one of the Strogino fitness centers in June 2016. The aim of the project is to make available fitness training for people with disabilities who do not have financial opportunities for sports.
Sports and fitness as a medicine
According to Alexander Shlychkov, who holds the position of President of the European Union Para-Taekwondo (EPTU) and part-time ideological inspirer and popularizer of this type of para-sport in Russia, it was decided to start with a group of people who have been diagnosed with disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Initially, they are given the opportunity to take part in a pilot project for free, which is launched immediately by 3 companies:
- European Union Para-Taekwondo;
- Charity Fund "Strength of the Spirit";
- Network of fitness centers World Class.
Shlychkov Alexander Parathaekwondo and a healthy lifestyle are not accidentally supported: the story of himself is in many respects similar to the fates of parasportsmen. The disability received in Afghanistan served as an incentive for self-development and popularization of para-sports. Alexander Gennadyevich Shlychkov Voronezh chose, it was here that he managed to implement many of his projects.
Alexander Shlychkov said that the involvement of people with disabilities in sports will begin with sparing loads aimed generally at strengthening the spirit and physical fitness. The load will be determined individually, based on medical indications and physical abilities of a person. The main thing is to interest a person, to show that his capabilities are not as limited as he believes.
Shlychkov Alexander knows from his own experience that not only financial difficulties are an obstacle to sports. According to him, the main barrier to sports is the absence of:
- special training and recovery programs for people with physical disabilities.
- coaching staff who will work with this category of persons;
- opportunities to organize training for a special category of citizens.
According to Alexander Shlychkov, fitness training can be a great addition to medical recovery.
World Class is ready to train people with disabilities
One of the World Class fitness centers is ready to begin work on restoring the strength and spirit of people with physical disabilities. Professional coaches and doctors are waiting for new visitors, and the champions of the Paralympic Games will give them moral support. Unfortunately, many people with disabilities have come to terms with the fact of their lack of demand by society and believe that the road to sports is closed to them. For those who do not want to put up with this, Denis Ohanyan tells a story from his biography: “When I started practicing para-taekwondo, I had incredible difficulties with coordination - I have cerebral palsy. But that did not stop me from becoming the second prize winner at the World Cup. Do not think that disability closes the door to the world for you. In my example, you can see the opposite. ”
A look into the future
Similar programs have been successfully implemented in some cities of Russia, for example, in Nizhny Novgorod and Ivanovo. In Ivanovo in 2012, local authorities even supported a local club that worked with people with disabilities by lowering the land tax rate.
Alexander Shlychkov, President of the Strength of Spirit Foundation, and his partners believe that a similar initiative could be implemented in Moscow. The authors and ideological inspirers of the project are not going to stop there and plan to discuss possible preferences for fitness clubs that agreed to support the project with the parliamentarians in the capital by autumn. In the meantime, a search is underway for new partners among the rest of the fitness centers in Moscow.
In the future, to seek support from the authorities at the local and federal levels in order to implement the project in the regions throughout the Russian Federation.