At the invitation of the Latvian Paralympic Committee, Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee, is visiting Latvia (also Estonia and Lithuania) this week. As part of his visit to Latvia, he also attended a training session for children with disabilities at the Rimi Olympic Center.
In a warm and friendly atmosphere together with smaller and bigger athletes, coaches, representatives of the management of the general sponsor of the Latvian Paralympic Committee “Mēnes aptiekas” – the chairman of the board Vilma Drulieni, the deputy chairman of the board of “Repharm” Dina Šmitas, as well as the general secretaries of the Latvian Paralympic Committee Daigas Dadzīti and Bīrnu and the president of the youth parasports association Natalija Novikova, the most important questions about children’s involvement in sports activities were discussed.
There is value in meeting in person
Andrew Parsons expressed that in this way it is possible to get to know the specifics of each country and the challenges they face, thus better understanding how these countries can be helped: “It is a unique opportunity to support the Paralympic Committees at the local level, also meeting with government representatives, the media and sponsors. Latvia has many medals at the highest level, but there is still a lot of work to be done, we also need more state support so that we can be proud of the true involvement of such diverse people in sports activities.”
More and more understanding and support
After an active warm-up, the lesson led by five professional coaches took place in parallel in various sports – wheelchair tennis, table tennis, archery, athletics disciplines – and the guests actively participated in its course, using time to talk with the children’s parents and coaches. All those present cheered and inspired the young athletes and expressed their true pride in the dedication and significant successes of the children and young people. It is the development of children’s and youth parasports throughout Latvia that plays a particularly important role, so that the society, understanding the importance of parasports, becomes more and more inclusive and educated. Andrew Parsons, in addition to the state’s involvement and policy in the development of Paralympic sports in the Baltic region, also assessed the role of supporters in realizing an active lifestyle and sporting goals, as well as improving public awareness. The training of children with disabilities takes place thanks to the financial, moral and healthy support of the great friend of the Latvian Paralympic Committee “Mēness aptieka”.
During his visit, Andrew Parsons meets with the highest officials of all three Baltic states, as well as the Paralympic committees and athletes, in order to get to know the current challenges and development opportunities of Paralympic sports in the Baltic region.
