The ASSI ApS Onlus - with the support of the Fondazione De Rigo H.E.ART Onlus - presents the new edition of ‘Integrally Sports and Culture’

Sports create culture and make it easy to knock down barriers and distances, emotionally uniting people. For ASSI ApS Onlus, this is a true mission and commitment that is renewed with the ‘Integrally Sports and Culture - 2022/2023 Edition’ project, supported by the Fondazione De Rigo H.E.ART Onlus.

The event is back with the now historic initiative developed by ASSI to educate young people about disabilities throughs sports activities at secondary and upper schools in the Belluno area. An educational project that, this year, saw the participation of 16 schools and approximately 1,200 students, including around 100 with disabilities, in addition to sports institutions, instructors with degrees in physical education, technicians and workers from a variety of different professions.

‘Integrally Sports and Culture’ offers information and education about disabilities and an incentive to practise Paralympic sports at the schools involved. The teenagers will in fact be offered the chance to learn about and practise a number of Paralympic sports disciplines, such as boccia, table football, basketball, wheelchair rugby, tennis, table tennis, orienteering/trail-O, archery, sitting volleyball, baskin, and integrated football.

The same logo for the 2022/2023 edition was created by Sara De Toffoli, a student from class 3AG at Belluno’s Catullo Institute.

The project was initiated by Simona Atzori - an artist with disabilities - back in December when she met with the students at Belluno’s Municipal Theatre, an appointment made possible thanks to the collaboration with the provincial capital’s municipal administration and company, GIESSE. We are currently progressing with the class meetings held by ambassadors for ASSI and the Blindsight project association. Paralympic athletes and people with different disabilities who offer their testimony by recounting their personal experience as a stimulus and example for the teenagers. ‘Sports personalities’ and others who have succeeded without letting the hardships of life get the better of them. Individuals who have had the courage to fight to achieve their dreams and who are committed, on a day-to-day basis, to personally demonstrating how the disability is not a limitation, that there are no obstacles to the desire to live life to the full, and that nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it.

The project will conclude on 18 May 2023 at the Spes Sports Arena with a special event dedicated to Paralympic sports, followed by an awards ceremony devoted to the students who have supported and participated in the initiative.

‘Integrally Sports and Culture’ is part of a wider project which, in addition to the participating schools and sports clubs, also - once again this year - benefits from the support of the Province of Belluno and collaborations with the following organisations: MIUR, Comune of Belluno, Giesse, Lattebusche and ASD Sport Assi.

Barbara De Rigo, President of the Fondazione De Rigo H.E.ART Onlus, commented: “We are proud to once again be working alongside ASSI Onlus in a new and important project for our region. Not only a partnership that is renewed with one of the most significant third sector realities in our area, but also the pleasure of once again supporting an initiative such as ‘Integrally Sports and Culture’ that perfectly marries the values of our Fondazione De Rigo – H.E.ART (Health, Education & Art for Youth), which is committed to supporting the intellectual and physical development of children and teens by way of initiatives and projects that can contribute to eliminating potential barriers that may limit their growth”.