The 10th edition of Special Power League – sports league for children with disabilities – will be held in Split next weekend (June 11 – 13, 2021).
Special Power League (SPL) is a sports league for children with disabilities, established in 2018, initiated by the Association ‘Health Life Academy’ and joined by Croatian Football Federation (HNS), Croatian Handball Federation (HRS), Mateo Kovacic Foundation, SILab Association, Association ‘Veliko Srce’ from Koprivnica, Association ‘Pogled’ from Nedelišće, Association for Down Syndrome 21 Split, School of Education Pula, Educational center for children with disabilities “Ivan Štark” Osijek, as well as football and handball clubs from Croatia and abroad.
The basic idea of the project is to motivate children with disabilities to actively integrate into society through sports activities. The project was designed based on the fact that children with disabilities do not have the opportunity to adequately play sports.
SPL has a year-round character and the value of the project has been recognized by the leading Croatian football and handball clubs. With support from professional associates from educational centers and external experts, clubs have established sections for children with developmental disabilities who actively participate in sports meetings throughout Croatia.
The basic goal of the project is the integration of children with disabilities into society through continuous sports activities.
The jubilee 10th edition of the project will mark a rich sports program in which our participants will have the opportunity to play handball with croatian handball legends, represent the their beloved football club at football matches, but also try some new sports and activities.
Already on Friday, June 11, 2021. in Vranjica, the program begins with a handball fantasy in which the selector of the Croatian national handball team Hrvoje Horvat and legends from the Balić&Metličić Academy joined by: Ivano Balić, Petar Metličić, Drago Vuković, Dalibor Anušić and others. Our famous handball players will once again wear jerseys, play handball and demonstrate their skills in inclusive matches together with people with disabilities. In addition to handball, participants will be able to try some of the traditional sports games and compete in petanque, pljočkanje, tug of war, bag jumping and many other cultural and sports activities.
After the inclusive handball, the rich sports program continues – an American football match that will be played by members of the Split Sea Wolves American football club. Half time show will be completed by cheerleaders from the cheerleading club Noa from Split and also an inclusive demonstration match in which our participants will have the opportunity to play American football.
Saturday brings a football spectacle hosted by HNK Hajduk Split, and the participants of the event will have the opportunity to show their football skills at the legendary Poljud Stadium.
Special sections of people with disabilities will participate in the program of football matches: HNK Hajduk Split Special Power Team, NK Slaven Belupo Special Power Team, NŠ Sloga Čakovec Special Power Team, NK Istra 1961 Special Power Team and NK Osijek Special Power Team. Participants in the tournament are members and attendees of the following associations and institutions: Association “Syndrome Down 21 Split”, SU “Veliko Srce” from Koprivnica, Association Latice from Koprivnica, Association for Autism Pogled Nedelišće, School of Education Pula and Center for Education “Ivan Štark” Osijek. The football spectacle will be accompanied by a lot of additional content provided by the host HNK Hajduk Split.
In addition to the aforementioned project program, the competitors will also participate in the European Mile project on Sunday. Health Life Academy association in cooperation with ISCA (International Sport and Culture Association) initiated the European Mile project in Croatia, which is a fun and easy way to encourage movement and connect people across Europe by sharing miles and donating them to a common cause.
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