Special Power League – 9. edition

Another great Special Power League project took place on World Autism Awareness Day on 2.4.2021.. The 3 day project hosted by NK Istra 1961 took place on the sport fields of beautiful Hotel Pula.

Participants of the sport meeting included Association for Sindrom Down-21 Split (HNK Hajduk Split Special Power Team), School for children with disabilities Pula (NK Istra 1961 Special Power Team), Association for autism “Pogeld” Nedelišće (NŠ Međimurje Čakovec Special Power Team) and Association “Veliko srce” (NK Slaven Belupo Special Power Team). Also, the event was supported by young professional athletes from NK Istra 1961 and Next Level Talents who joined in an inclusive match where they played together with children and persons with disabilities.

The participants of the event had a great time playing football together with the main goal of raising awareness of the importance of social inclusion through sports. This was noticed by parents, coaches, associates and others, so they were also satisfied with the realization of the project and the achieved results.

At the end of the Special Power League event, director of A.T.I. d.o.o. Vesna Borisavljević, general secretary of Health Life Academy Association Dario Jagić, Next Level Talents coach Davor Dvanajščak, member of SZGP (Sports community of the city of Pula) Sandi Popović and NK Istra 1961 representative Goran Roce provided medals, trophies and other appropriate gifts to all participants.

As part of the project, a professional seminar on the topic of social and sports integration of children with disabilities with current topics related to stress and emotions in sports was successfully completed. Symposium consisted of 4 lecturers: Monika Vandero:” Kako se nositi sa stresom i kontrolirati emocije (How to deal with stress and control emotions)”, Nevenka Popec Fuchs and Silvija Kovač:” Udruga za pomoć osobama s intelektualnim teškoćama Latice (Association for helping PWID Latice)”, Kristian Batelić:” W-Life projekt (W-Life project)”.

As an additional content of the European Mile event, traditional sports games were held in cooperation with the association Europeenne De Jeux Et Sports Traditionnels (European Association for Traditional Games and Sports) and Istarski pljočkarski savez (IPS). The project aims to develop new forms of sports programs of traditional sports intended to connect people of different ages and people with disabilities through traditional values, culture and sports activities. President of Istarski pljočkarski savez (IPS), Milivoj Pacenti demonstrated Istrian traditional game of called Pljočkanje which is Croatian intangible cultural heritage in Europe and the world.

The participants had a great time in Pula and are very satisfied with the realization of the event and the achieved results.

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