Inclusion Days 2024: Sport and fun for everyone in the Ennstal

Inclusion Days 2024: Sport and fun for everyone in the Ennstal

Last week the exciting Inclusion Days 2024 event took place in the heart of Schladming-Dachstein. With more than 200 participants from all over Austria, the organizers can be proud of a new record. This sports and action week brings people with intellectual disabilities and their families together and enables them to try out a variety of sports.

The Inclusion Days are the successor to the earlier Family Days and have established themselves as an important event for Special Olympics Austria. Nicole Koch, the national director of Special Olympics, expressed confidence that the event, having been revived in 2022 following the coronavirus pandemic, will have even greater potential in the coming years. “We are on the right track,” said Koch.

The variety of activities

Participants could choose from a range of sports during the week, including rock climbing, mini golf, tennis and yoga. The event not only offered sporting challenges, but also many other activities. For example, the Schladming Volunteer Fire Department organized an impressive demonstration of their emergency equipment, while students from the Ski Academy held their own Olympics.

The culinary component was also not neglected: under the direction of Oliver Esterl, cookies were eagerly baked in the Fresh culinary workshop. Another highlight was the hike through the picturesque Talbachklamm, which immersed the participants in the beauty of the surrounding area.

A visit from the sports legend

One of the big highlights of the Inclusion Days was the visit by Marlies Raich, the multiple world champion and Olympic medalist. She took an active part in the yoga sessions in Rohrmoos and was available for participants to request autographs and photos. Raich, who was already actively involved in the World Winter Games in 2017, was enthusiastic about the positive energy that the participants possess. “It’s impressive to see how much joy and openness they radiate,” she emphasized.

The fan base and families of the athletes were enthusiastic about the positive atmosphere and inclusive spirit of the event. Nicole Koch also explained that she is already working on further developing the events for the next few years and appealing to even more people. “Our goal is to further promote inclusive ideas and make the next Inclusion Days even more attractive,” she added.

For further information about these moving days and the activities, there are detailed reports and reading options on www.meinkreis.at to find.