On 4th and 5th October our Education and Development manager, Norman Hughes, joined members of the Italian Hockey Federation at the Vatican. Here the Italian Para Olympic Committee (CIP) had organised a 2 day congress “Believe to be Alive” where many sports could showcase their skills
On Saturday Pope Francis gave the whole group an audience and supported the important role that sport can play in everyone’s lives by developing teamwork and understanding.
On Sunday we watched a Division 2 match which integrated 3 Learning Disability players into the 2 teams
Afterwards many sports demonstrated their art outside the Vatican building up public awareness of the high skill level achieved by each group. It is hoped that hockey’s attendance stresses our aim to develop a full hockey pathway athletes with learning disability.
During his stay, Norman held talks with FIH about the European Para Hockey Championships 2015. The format and rules were discussed as well as how to move forward with the complex issue of classification for Learning Disability athletes.
Source and Photographs: EHF