Disabled and able-bodied together The Bebe Vio Academy is born “Here diversity and inclusion”

The project promoted by Nike and Art4Sport has found its headquarters at Iseo in Milan. The foil player from Mogliano: “It’s exciting to see the kids train together”

MILANO

He triumphed for the first time at the 2016 Paralympics. He repeated in the Tokyo edition last summer, overcoming a thousand hardships. But those who know Bebe well know that the Academy just took off in Milan is worth much more than a Paralympic medal. It is a dream that comes true without getting on a podium or listening to Mameli’s hymn.

The opportunity to bring children with disabilities closer to sport, the opportunity to allow the able-bodied to know the value of inclusion. The Academy of Bebe Vio, promoted by Nike and Art4Sport (the association of Bebe in support of young Paralympics), is what the foil player from Mogliano has always wanted, that is, the exemplification of equality between able-bodied and disabled athletes. The concept is well expressed by the champion on social networks: «The Bebe Vio Academy was born, a place that I have always dreamed of since I began to know the world of disability and Paralympic sport. A place where children with disabilities can discover how beautiful and exciting sport is and where able-bodied children can have fun, learning the importance of diversity and inclusion. A new path has begun ».

The Academy is a three-year project: in the first season, the activities will take place only in Milan, at the Iseo sports center (brought to its knees 10 years ago by a fire, then reopened in 2016) and at the Bicocca. Each course, which lasts four months, will be attended by 30 students, equally divided between able-bodied and disabled. Five disciplines are foreseen: fencing, football amputees, sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball, athletics. On the opening day, all the guys from Fly2Tokyo, a project by Art4Sport that supported some young Paralympics on the journey that brought them to Japan, gathered at the Iseo Center. Special guests were former rugby player Martin Castrogiovanni, foil player Alice Volpi and fifteenth century player Davide Re. “Seeing boys and girls playing Olympic and Paralympic sports, training together, is exciting”, Bebe thought. Among your dreams, isn’t there the unification of Coni and Cip (Paralympic Committee)? And maybe one day become president of a new Coni version? Bebe has already started laying the foundations. –

Mattia Toffoletto