Ecuador launches development programme

The Ecuador Paralympic Committee (CPE) launched the development programme ‘Talento Latino’ (Latin Talent) on 20 May, aimed at identifying young rising Para athletes from the Muisne and Portoviejo cantons.

This project is supported by the Agitos Foundation, the development arm of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and the Ecuadorian Ministry of Sports. A total of 12 youngsters were identified in this first phase.

The Colombian Paralympic Committee (CPC) organised the first ‘Talento Latino’ workshop in Bogota in 2016, inviting representatives from Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Peru to explain them the process they implemented to identify young talents from the grassroots.

CPE President Bayron Lopez said: “Coach Fernanda Lema and CPE Technical Director Santiago Chango went to Bogota representing Ecuador.

“After learning many things from the Colombian model, we are now trying to reach as many people as possible in our country by implementing this same system.”

More information is available on the Ecuador Paralympic Committee’s Facebook page (in Spanish).