The Pastel Association in collaboration with the National Paralympic Committee launched on Friday the "Pedale Salvatoare 4.0/Redemption Pedals 4.0" project dedicated to promoting sports among people with disabilities at an event hosted by the "Anna de Noailles" French High School, aimed at raising awareness of the need to support Paralympic sports in Romania, draw attention to the shortage of resources and promote social inclusion through sports.
Also attending, president of the Romanian National Paralympic Committee Eduard Novak emphasized that the equipment received on this occasion will help create a national basketball team.
"I always felt humbled when I saw countries participating in competitions with many well-trained athletes. These wheelchairs will help create a basketball team, a national team to represent Romania," Novak said.
Andreea Oprea, executive director of the Pastel Association, said that sport should not be a privilege, but a right.
"I am grateful to be here, in front of people who, just like us believe that sport should not be a privilege, but a right. 'Pedale Salvatoare' has reached the 4.0 edition - an edition about performance, teamwork and courage. It is dedicated to Paralympic athletes, to the children who deserve the chance to do sports and young people who dream of international competitions. The talent exists. The determination exists. What is often missing is accessibility. And that is exactly what we intend to change," said Oprea.
Paralympic basketball player Daniel Troanca referred to the state's indifference to the needs of people with disabilities, the lack of sports and organizational infrastructure.
"Almost everything is missing. The way we look at them on the street. It starts from there. We need sports and organizational infrastructure. Schools and colleges should look at them as normal people. The state should think about them. Currently, schools do not have toilets for people with disabilities. Very few have a ramp. But we, as a society, should at least offer them a smile and change the way we look at them," said Troanca.
Flavian Craciun, a Paralympic tennis and basketball athlete, said that sport helped him reintegrate into society.
"A very large percentage of people with disabilities do not leave their homes, do not practice sports, and we need to show that we can put Romania on the map of Paralympic competitions," Craciun pointed out, while a fellow wheelchair basketball player emphasized the important role of sports in combating depression.
The project includes providing the National Paralympic Committee with equipment, organizing five demonstration events in specialized schools, facilitating the training of future athletes through four sports camps, and supporting the Romanian delegation for participation in the 2025 European Para Youth Games.
Renowned Paralympic athletes offered sports demonstrations during the event.
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