Sure,
The pétanque competition organized last year between able-bodied and disabled athletes required a follow-up.
And in this summer of 2015, the Alpes-Maritimes Departmental Olympic and Sports Committee rose to the challenge and organized, through its sports and disability division, in close collaboration with the handisport and adapted sports committees, the Handi-Able Open swimming event.
Sixty able-bodied people, disabled men and women, and those with intellectual disabilities from various specialized centers gathered around the pools of the Jean-Bouin swimming pool in Nice to participate in this remarkable initiative.
The event took the form of a relay race with a physically disabled person, a person with an intellectual disability, and an able-bodied person. Everyone shared an afternoon of sport, solidarity, and camaraderie with great enthusiasm.
Philippe Manassero, president of the CDOS 06, Michèle-Anne Sahin, president of the CDH06 and vice-president of the CDOS 06 in charge of the sports and disability division, as well as Michel Manceau, president of the CDSA06, were generous with their encouragements for these valiant competitors. Furthermore, the Departmental Olympic and Sports Committee is planning to develop more “handi-able” events to promote exchanges among athletes and to change society’s perception of disability.
Congratulations to all participants of this Open swimming event, especially to Jordan Minglis—assistant coach of the OGC Nice team who will be participating in the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles—winner of this event with his relay team.
