Quarterly Report XI: October 1st to December 31th 2016

In the fourth quarter of 2016, linkages with several sporting events were established, reflecting the growing importance of social inclusion on the agendas of institutions and local government programs. As a result, main activities were implemented to promote inclusion and awareness. One of the key activities was the invitation of athletes from Santa Marta to share a discussion about disability and the dissemination of the project through Magdalena radio, a local station. Additionally, the athletes of Sitting Volleyball from SportPower2 performed an exhibition and a speech to sensitize youth about the importance of practicing sports for physical health and the adequate use of free time. The project also participated in the celebration of the International Day of Disability through a parade, which took place on December 1st and went down the main streets of Santa Marta. In partnership with the Municipal Ministry of Education of Quibdó and its program of social service, an adapted tournament of athletics was conducted at the Aeroparque. Over 300 students from different institutions participated in the tournament, which was promoted by all the media of the municipality. The recovery of the coliseum sports scenarios was also supported, providing services to four leagues, including Paralympic sport disciplines. A strategic alliance with the program coordination Ciclivías Barriales in Medellín directed by INDER (Instituto de Deportes y Recreación) led to the organization of an adapted athletics tournament in the El Salvador neighborhood. The event was an awareness exercise about visual and auditive disability, held by ADA foundation – a local partner in Medellín. The project also participated in the second and third games of community integration Todo para los Barrios 2016 in Cartagena, an event that congregated diverse groups within 107 neighborhoods of Cartagena. In Riohacha, a tournament was held with a massive presence of children, youth, and adults from the neighborhood Arriba and surroundings, who had the opportunity to compete in athletic races with visual and auditive disability athletes of the project. The activity started with an inclusive rumbaterapia session directed by a personal member of Coldeportes Nacional. A training for leaders of the project took place in Bogotá, where leaders were chosen for their capabilities, disposal, and affinity with the project. They were trained in topics such as Paralympic sport, disability, and rights, leadership, administrative coaching, labor inclusion, health care path, and victim assistance as an exercise of personal empowerment. The aim of this training is to make SportPower2 athletes guarantors of their rights as people with disabilities, allowing them to replicate the knowledge learned in their cities. The participation of athletes as official delegations in regional and nationwide tournaments was possible through linkage of the project's members to the National Paralympic System. This assistance has been outstanding in events like Juegos Supérate (intercollegiate event), which includes Paralympic sport and takes place all over the country. The winner, Gineth Bello, experienced throughout this tournament award on 200 meters and 100 meters' gold and silver, respectively; Alfredo Correa won two gold medals, one for 100 meters and another for 200 meters; Carol Pinilla and Julián Torres also made part of the tournament on the shot and javelin modality. There has not only been assisting on national tournaments, but on regional events as athletics for people with limited vision too; like the event that took place in Bogotá the 4th and 5th of November, where Elier Robles participated in 100 meters achieving third and sixth place on the modality of shot and javelin. Carlos Fuentes, as well, participated in 100 meters and managed to get second place. Meanwhile, three participants of sitting volleyball of Bogotá were invited to the Sporting Cup UMNG (Universidad Militar Nueva Granada) Campus to make part of the game, where they got the first place. The activities carried out by SportPower2 with the community displayed the participation with kids and youngest ones, who have demonstrated commitment and a high degree of awareness towards inclusion processes for People with Disabilities. Their participation consolidates the family making the events a channel of joint with different actors of the community. In this sense, SportPower2 contributes to the adults of tomorrow to be inclusive beings in pursuit of an equal society. The consolidated total of participants for the 11th quarter is 286 athletes, with nine new participants joining the project in December 2016. The labor inclusion component of SportPower2 has been performing its actions through two strategies, one geared towards People with Disabilities, for which it has been 45 participants occupationally profiled in the six cities.