The Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth, Mr Prodromos Prodromou, made a statement after the end of the Unified Football Demonstration for People with and without Visual Impairment, which took place in the framework of the "A Ball for All" programme.
In particular, Mr Prodromou said: "As part of the activities organized in school units for the month of empathy for people with disabilities, we organized this match so that we could all understand what it is like to be able to play football when you have a visual disability, but also to understand how children with visual disabilities can enjoy football, even with difficulties."
The match was held according to the standards of Paralympic football. Those who have participated without a visual impairment - and I had the experience myself - play with a mask, so we are all on equal footing, i.e. without eye contact. Just listening to the sound of the ball bells and some instructions to orient ourselves.
Those of the participants without a visual impairment understood how difficult it is to take part in such a match. You operate in this race with your hearing, i.e. with the instructions you hear and the ringing of the ball. Nevertheless, it is worth it and I think that in these days of approaching Christmas holidays it is the most beautiful message. A message of cooperation, love and effort from everyone so that we can work in solidarity and respect for each other.
I want to congratulate those who have worked to get here today. I realize that it was not easy to prepare the children of the Sports Schools who participated along with the visually impaired children in this race. I also want to thank the Archbishop Makarios III High School in Platy Aglantzia and the School for the Blind. Of course, we have today fulfilled a promise made in September to George who had suggested a football match for the blind. From now on we should work to have such games in other schools all over Cyprus, so that children understand, feel what it means to have a visual disability. But also to realize that any disability does not mean fatalistic marginalization. We can, instead, do things. Our ambition is to have a tournament of such football matches involving children with disabilities and other children."
IP
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