Cooperation protocol was signed by KEAT and EAOM-Disabled

In a beautiful event and in a festive atmosphere, KEAT and EAOM-Disabled gave a formal character to a long-term collaboration, which concerns people with visual disabilities and their involvement in sports.

The event was honored by the presence of Mr. George Stamatis, General Secretary of Social Solidarity and Combating Poverty, Anna Giannakou-Paschou, Deputy Mayor of Welfare in the Municipality of Kallithea, George Kalampalikis, Deputy Mayor of Kaliaki & Koistikas Health , Deputy Mayor of Cleaning, Recycling & Public Transport of N. Smyrni, Konstantinos Konstantinidis, Authorized Municipal Councilor of N. Smyrni, and Mr. Dimitris Sifakis, General Secretary of the Panhellenic Association of the Blind, member of the EA and Vice President and Mr. Konstantinos Orloff, Youth Secretary of the Panhellenic Association of the Blind.

The Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, in charge of Welfare and Social Solidarity, Domna Michailidou, addressed a video greeting, while the Deputy Minister of Sports, Lefteris Avgenakis, also sent a letter.

The Commander and Chairman of the Board of KEAT, Sofia-Lefki Hamonikolaou, in her short greeting referred to the cooperation of the two bodies, pointing out that with the protocol that was signed, the foundations for achieving common goals are laid.

“As you all know, ensuring the independent, autonomous and dignified living of visually impaired people in their daily lives, is a primary concern of the Center for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind. And engaging in sports is an integral part of that. Physical and athletic activity is, for people with disabilities, an outstanding means of personal development, rehabilitation, social inclusion and solidarity and should therefore be encouraged.

In addition to improving self-care and independent living skills, developing motor and physical skills and learning the sporting ideal, the disabled person through physical activity benefits from socializing and equal participation in social events.

With the signing of the cooperation protocol between two important bodies of disability in Greece, the National Sports Federation of Persons with Disabilities and the Center for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind, the foundations are laid for the achievement of common goals regarding the dissemination of sport and its benefits in people with visual disabilities “, stressed Ms. Hamonikolaou.

For her part, the president of EAOM-Disabled, Ioanna Karyofyllis, referred to the institutional character of the cooperation between the two bodies with the signing of the specific cooperation protocol.

“A really long-term cooperation with KEAT took on an institutional character and I think that, from now on, we will be able to cooperate in the best way in the field of people with visual disabilities. I warmly thank the Commander of KEAT for all our cooperation so far and I believe that by presenting the sports presented by our coaches, athletes and partners in the best way, we will be able to attract new athletes to come to us and to engage in the sports cultivated by the National Sports Federation of Persons with Disabilities “.

The head of the International Football Association for the Blind, Ilias Mastoras, referred to the program “A ball for everyone”, while the speech-testimony of the soul of the “gold” Tokyo Paralympian in 100 meters, Nasos Gavela, focused on the journey from his childhood to world renown, in a special section entitled “The dream of a small child.”

“Make your dreams come true! Do not let anything stop you “, said Nasos Gavelas, next to whom was both the guide athlete, Sotiris Garaganis, and their coach (and track and field coach), Nestoras Kolovos, whose thematic unit had to do with the coaching of world and Paralympic level runner with visual disability.

The federal coaches of golf, Antonis Anastos, of football for the blind, Panagiotis Stefanidis, and of judo for the blind, Stavros Stragalis, referred to these three impressive sports, while to the benefits of the above sports, but also to their personal struggles. (golf), Eleni Chalkiadaki (golf), Emmanuella Masourou (judo), Theodora Paschalidou (judo) and the athlete Theoklitos Papachristos (judo).

Immediately after the signing of the cooperation protocol, a musical performance followed by the Music Ensemble of KEAT, as well as a bazaar by the student community and the Fabric Republic of AMKE IASIS. The actor-songwriter, Giannis Hatzigeorgiou, who participated in the musical performance, surprised the students of KEAT.