670 dancers enchant Klagenfurt: Inclusion through international contest!
670 dancers enchant Klagenfurt: Inclusion through international contest!
On March 30, 2025, 670 dancers from four nations gathered in the Klagenfurt concert hall to take part in the International Dance Contest and the Special Olympics Dance. State captain Peter Kaiser warmly welcomed the participants. The event, which offered an impressive program with 260 dances over two days, presented a shining example of lived inclusion and reflected the zeitgeist and the lifestyle of today's society.
Various clubs, dance schools, dance groups and hobby groups took part. Particularly noteworthy is the common performance of special Olympics and para participants, which occurred in different disciplines, categories and age groups. The aim of this event was to promote integration and appreciation towards people with different skills.
special success for participants
The 13th edition of the international tournament in Carinthia was organized by Ulrike Adler-Wiegele, who is also a dance teacher in Feldkirchen and has been acting as a technical delegate for dance at the Special Olympics since 2024. She thanked the parents and grandparents for the support of the dancers. An outstanding example of beneficial inclusion is the Klagenfurter Vereena Eder, who won a gold medal in the solo dance at the Special Olympics in March in Turin. Vereena has Down syndrome and is trained by Ulrike Adler-Wiegele.
The connection between inclusion and sporting activity is also illustrated by the second report "Status quo - participation, inclusion and sport" of the research institute for inclusion through movement and sport (FIBS). This report follows a first report from 2023 and deals with the results of a nationwide survey in which almost 1,200 people with different impairments and 900 employees from institutions of the disabled help.
challenges and opportunities in disabled sports
The survey addressed the availability of sports and movement offers as well as necessary measures to create long-term, suitable offers. It was shown that many information offers find little response, with one exception: social media communication to the special Olympics that generated greater attention. The analysis of media reporting on the Special Olympics shows a positive trend, which, however, has to be supported in order to make popular sports for people with impairments visible in the media.
| main reasons for sporting activity | percent |
|---|---|
| Health | 62.5% |
| fun | 62.5% |
| stress relief | 62.5% |
Overall, it can be seen that despite progress, the opportunities for participation in sport are assessed as mediocre. Sport often takes place self-organized without fixed offers, and many people with disabilities experience everyday restrictions than less, the more active they are. Nevertheless, efforts by clubs and those responsible are still necessary to increase the visibility of the disabled sport and to create a broader sporting offer.
In summary, it can be said that events such as the International Dance Contest not only present talents, but also serve as a platform to promote inclusion in society and to create sensitivity to the concerns of people with different skills. This message is carried forward through various successful initiatives and cannoted data that emerges from research on inclusion and sport. Weitere Informationen darüber finden sich in den Studien von BGW Online und den Ergebnissen des Forschungsinstituts für Inklusion durch Bewegung und Sport (Fibs), which are published at| Details | |
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| Ort | Klagenfurt, Österreich |
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