By: Cecília Pires
OLYMPIC GOLD medalist Rosa Mota will be in Faro today (Friday, May 4), to participate in the Programa Regional do Desporto Adaptado (PRDA), a project dedicated to promoting adapted sports in the region.
The event, called Adapted Sports Week by the organisers, kicked off on Monday at the Forum Algarve and runs until next Sunday, offering visitors and handicapped athletes many activities and experiences.
The slogan for the week is “Let’s not look at the differences. Let’s start looking at the people” and the challenge for those who visit Forum Algarve during this week is, “try it yourself and see if you can do it!”
Even Rosa Mota, who won several world and European marathons as well as the gold medal in the 1988 Olympic Games at Seoul, will be challenged to try some of the adapted sports.
For today’s programme, a slalom competition has been organised between 11am and 1pm. After lunch, visitors can participate in some adapted gymnastics, between 3pm and 6pm.
A senior Boccia competition is expected to take place at 4pm and fencers will be on hand to dare visitors to try the sport.
Sitting volleyball ends the day’s activities, between 8pm and 10pm, so that the rings can be prepared for the next two days of intense competitions at Forum Algarve.
Get involved
Saturday’s demonstrations start with a 1,500 metres race at 10am. This will be followed by the first national weightlifting competition at 11am. A horse riding dressage event, with the possibility of children and adults trying a riding experience for the handicapped, will end Saturday morning’s activities.
 Try a riding experience for the handicapped at Forum Algarve. Photo: Cecília Pires |
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The closing programme on Sunday will start with a demonstration of guide dogs for the blind at 11am. At lunchtime, visitors will have a last chance to try horse riding. The afternoon will have two other game competitions, goalball (in wheelchairs) and sitting volleyball.
The event is sponsored by Faro Civil Government in partnership with the Centro Regional da Segurança Social (the regional office for social security), Direcção Regional da Educação (the regional authority for education) and Instituto do Desporto de Portugal (the national authority for sports).
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