Youngsters Heading to El Salvador for IPC Youth Workshop

Youngsters from Central America are making their way to El Salvador for the first International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Youth Workshop taking place from 10-17 April in the country’s capital San Salvador.

Funded by the Foundation of Global Sports Development with USD 50,000, the Youth Workshop aims to empower the 60 youngsters with a disability to get into sport and develop their sporting abilities.

The training for participants will include elements to improve interpersonal skills, focus on individual living conditions and having a significant part dedicated on sports. Five Paralympic sports including Athletics, Goalball, Para Table Tennis, Wheelchair Basketball, and Wheelchair Tennis will be practiced. The Paralympic values including courage, determination, inspiration and equality, will also be experienced, practiced and taken into the lives of the youngsters.

IPC President, Sir Philip Craven, said: “This Workshop is a wonderful initiative for those youngsters to get involved in Paralympic Sport.

“These youngsters may well become future Paralympic athletes. The athletes are at the heart of the Paralympic Movement, the Paralympic Games could not exist without them.

“By staging this camp, the IPC wants to give these youngsters the necessary tools to develop their sporting abilities and maybe one day take part in Paralympic Games.”

In addition to the youngsters between the ages of 14-18 taking part, all participating countries will send their Youth Co-ordinator and coaches to receive specific training in order to enable them to spread the empowerment message to an even wider audience following the conclusion of the workshop.

IPC Governing Board member Jose Luis Campo and Americas Paralympic Committee President Octavio Londono will attend the workshop as well to interact with the youths and tell them what the Paralympic Movement is about.

The Foundation for Global Sports Development’s work with international sports organizations helps young athletes from disadvantaged background and developing countries train and prepare for international competition that would otherwise be out of reach. In addition, the government of El Salvador supports the workshop by providing accommodation, transport, volunteers and sport venues.