Integrated Athletics Project

The project “Integrated Athletics,” one of the few integrated sports courses aimed at deaf and hearing children was realized by RWF in collaboration with Athletes from the Gelsi Sports Club (www.atleticadeigelsi.it), thanks to the donation of the Circolo Giovanile del Corpo della Nobiltà Italiana. The athletic society of Gelsi also generously provided all children who were enrolled in courses with T-shirts, tracksuits and shorts printed with the RWF logo and offered the support of qualified deaf instructors. All courses were provided during the 2008/2009 school year at the Paolo Rosi Stadium - Via dei Campi Sportivi 7 - Rome.

The courses were taught by qualified instructors supported by a communication assistant from RWF, Marzia Caravelli, an Italian athlete who holds second place in the 100m hurdles on the national level and also works in the field of deafness. Deaf athletes – Alessandro Natale, holder of the European record in the 100m and Giacomo Susco, triathlon champion also held special lessons throughout the year. The lessons were specifically suited for deaf children and responded to the children’s curiosity towards athletics. Following the lessons, young athletes were given the opportunity to get to know the two inspirational champions whom they aspired to.

RWF conceived the idea of the Integrated Athletics Project in the panorama of Italian sport because there are very few courses in athletics (and sports in general) that are organized for deaf children. We chose athletics because it is a complete discipline which ensures a harmonious development of the whole body and that lays the basic fundamentals of any sport one may want to pursue in the future. More importantly, “athletics” means an engaging in sport where you never lose, never sit on a bench, where everything is measured based on your own strengths and abilities with clearly defined limits with the overall aim of continual improvement.

A variety of activities were provided allowing deaf and hearing children to compete with each other in a cooperative and team environment which, as a result, helped to facilitate effective integration.

Even parents of young athletes contributed to the integration process, on a deeper level, by socializing with each other during snack time at the end of each lesson, and participating in adult athletics courses organized by Gelsi athletes.

The objectives set out by RWF at the beginning of the project were fulfilled: the introduction of deaf children to sport and the enthusiasm they’ve shown when they participated in courses; a chance to socialize with each other and with hearing children; the possibility of having a good time with friends outdoors by getting the opportunity to run, jump, play, and have fun and the pairing of trained instructors with deaf athletic role models.