On Sunday 24 November the Catena di Villorba Municipal Gym will host an event that goes beyond sport. This is the National Inclusive Judo Championship, organized by the ASD Judo Opitergium of Master Alan Semenzin, 4th Dan, a sports association based in Ponte di Piave, committed to promoting judo in all its forms, including the inclusive one. With the patronage of the Municipality of Villorba and the support of prestigious bodies such as the Ministry for Sport and Youth, the Italian Paralympic Committee, INAIL and the Veneto Region, this event represents a moment of collective growth and celebration of inclusion. Entrance is free.
Inclusive Judo, in line with the Special Olympics philosophy, breaks down barriers and enhances the comparison between able-bodied and disabled athletes. It is based on the principles of respect, mutual help and personal growth, elements that reflect daily practice on the tatami. Objective: to create an environment where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can express their potential and feel part of a community. The day will not be limited to competitions, but will also offer some training moments.
In the morning, the judo competitions will take place from 9 to 11: from 9 to 10 the national games and from 10 to 11 the “Libertas” National Inclusive Judo Championship. At the end the awards ceremony and lunch. Throughout the day, there are moments of practical and theoretical training for Judo teachers and technicians and entertainment areas for the athletes.
At 2 pm there will be a conference with Dr. Nicole Maussier, sports inclusion expert, and Dr. Fabio La Malfa, author of texts dedicated to inclusive judo, who will share their experiences on the value of inclusion in sport. At 4 pm there will be a workshop on how to manage crisis situations during sporting activity, with Dr. Emanuela Fornasier, psychologist, and Maestro Vittorio Casellato. The mayor of Villorba, Francesco Soligo, underlines the value of this event: «There cannot be sport without inclusion, which is why as an administration we give our convinced support to all events that go in this direction».
«Judo is not just a sport, but a journey of personal transformation» states Master Alan Semenzin «Putting athletes with different backgrounds on the same tatami allows us to overcome prejudices and grow together, in the spirit of ‘mutual benefit’ dear to this martial art.”
«We strongly support initiatives like this because sport must be a right for everyone» adds the sports councilor, Egidio Barbon «we want every association in our territory to contribute to creating a sporting offer that leaves no one behind».
