I joined “I*Can” in 2007 after I decided to give up basketball, which I’d been playing for several years, and I’ve been President of this association for a year now. “I*Can” promotes initiatives for social inclusion and participation of disabled people through exercise, as a means of gaining psychophysical well-being.
With this purpose, it schedules two tennis training sessions a week. It works according to the method and regulations of Special Olympics Italia, an international training and program designed for young and adult athletes, with limited intellectual abilities.
“I*Can” is a proper tennis school and it is managed and promoted by a first grade level FIT(Italian Tennis Federation) tennis instructor, who is current member of the federation. So far the number of special athletes has exceeded 20 people, and they are all supported by a group of young volunteers like me, who train with them and help out instructors during training sessions and events. Matches are arranged according to athletes playing level and each of them is paired with a playing partner who is trained properly in order to make matches a more inclusive experience.
All boys and girls who are part of the project are aged between 17 and 25 years, and are disabled by mental disorders of different kind, which often affect physical ability and lead to a loss of independence. Furthermore, besides tennis we took up swimming last September and next winter we will put ourselves to the test with skiing as well.
Evey year our association takes part in tournaments in the North of Italy and in a National Special Olympics event, which has been held in San Giovanni Lupatoto (Verona) this year. We have recently organized a Unified Doubles Tennis Tournament at a sports facility in Breganze.
Even though we can rely on qualified instructors and staff, we are not aiming at turning disabled boys and girls into professional athletes, but at promoting social integration and contributing to increase their independence. This can also be improved during summertime when the guys, who aren’t busy with their routine training, can choose whether to keep doing sport autonomously.
Keeping in contact with these special athletes is really rewarding. It is amazing to see how there are happy with very little and aren’t demanding at all. They put in a great effort when competing and can’t hold back emotions which prove how valuable sport is to them.
There is another aspect which surprises at every single event and which should set an example to each of us, and this is fair play. Whether they are winning or losing the match, they shake hands with and hug their opponent at the end.
If you would like to join the association or visit us during our initiatives, you are welcome. You will have the chance to learn to play a sport and above all to do a good deed which will pay you back with lots of emotion.
@EcorIntern