The opening of the first Scientific-Professional Conference and Practical Demonstrative Activities of Adapted Judo was a resounding success. During the morning session, the Italian Judo Wrestling Karate and Martial Arts Federation (FIJLKAM) Olympic Centre in Lido di Ostia, Rome hosted a number of invited lecturers to take the floor, presenting their studies and findings.
European Judo Union Vice President, Sergei Aschwanden was part of the opening ceremony;
For the European Judo Union, it is important to attend this, adapted judo is a hot topic now, it is hard but important and rewarding work. Success in sport is important for champion, but it is important to be included and that is our focus. I hope that the debate will be prosperous and we need to exchange out experiences. Thank you to the FIJLKAM President, Domenico Falcone, thank you to the professors, now we will get underway with the theoretical approach and tomorrow the practical aspect.
Italy’s double World and European Champion, as well as double Olympic medallist and FIJLKAM President of the Scientific Committee, Emanuela Pierantozzi, spoke next,
I am so proud and happy to be here, it is a truly important event and I believe this will make us stronger in the future. I would like to thank the FIJLKAM President for believing in us and supporting us, and for arranging this meeting. It is an honour for me to be involved as this is personal to me, it will be a great opportunity to exchange views and experience.
Concluding the opening ceremony, Member of FIJLKAM Scientific Technical Committee, Nicole Maussier, addressed the participants, lecturers, experts and the panel,
Thank you for making this event possible, our role is ‘spreader of this message’ and by gathering here we are making that a reality. This is a way in which we can contribute to Italian sports and increase inclusion. It is important to invest in these approaches to improve the welfare system, of which, sport is an essential element.
Following the opening ceremony, the invited lecturers were underway and first up was Menotti Calvani, presenting ‘Brains on Hold’, followed by Paola Sbriccoli with ‘Judo, Karate and special populations: from theory to practice with a look towards Europe’.
Angela Magnanini and Lorenzo Cioni looked at the special topic of ‘From the Family as a barrier to the barriers of the family’ in order to try and identify how the family may struggle to include their children in sporting activities, so that resolution can be found.
Joining Pierantozzi was Jose Morales to present their lecture on the successful experiences of adapted judo, the former reflected on personal experience within her own family and could boast of the success she had witnessed. Concluding the morning session of the conference, Maussier stepped up once again to present the Katautism Project, of which she is Project Manager, looking specifically at the inclusion of autistic children in school.
To look back at the days presentations and discussions, all can be viewed on the FIJLKAM YouTube Channel.
Find the full gallery below.
Author: Thea Cowen