Have limited opportunities for movement

« The idea is that children with reduced mobility can practice sports at their sports club, like each other. » This is stated by Jóhanna Dýrunn Jónsdóttir, who represents weekly basketball exercises for children with reduced mobility at the Sports Association of Reykjavik (IR) in collaboration with the Sports Association of Iceland (ÍSÍ).

The project is part of the project ÍSÍ, UMFÍ and IF, Everybody withwho is working to increase the opportunities for disabled people for sports activities in their local environment in collaboration with the sports movement.

The exercises in the IR are the first of its kind in this country, where the children get a special basketball wheelchair to pursue the sport. The chairs were paid by ISI and the European Basketball League game, but children with reduced mobility are not entitled to special wheelchairs or other sports activities at insurance companies but only for the necessary movement.

Jóhanna says that the goal of the exercises is, first of all, so that children with reduced mobility can participate in organized sports activities with the adaptation to their needs, as well as to raise awareness of limited opportunities for children with reduced mobility. She says that only 4% of children with reduced mobility are in active exercise today. It's something that needs to be improved.

There is great joy in the exercises.

mbl.is/ólafur Árdal

It was decided to have the exercises within a sports club but not to form a special club around them. In doing so, the children can practice the sport with their mates and belong to a larger community.

« It is incredibly important in the lives of children to belong to a community like a sports club, » says Johanna.

Children aged 7-14 can sign up for the exercises. Jóhanna says that today there are three children with permanent registration of the exercises, but the sports club has 7 chairs for use, as well as an additional 5 more.

Five additional chairs are expected and 12 children can play together.

mbl.is/ólafur Árdal

While children with reduced mobility do not use all chairs, children who practice sports at the IR have stepped into and participated in the exercises with good reception.

ISI and the European Football Association bought the Chairs, but they are specially designed in sports.

mbl.is/ólafur Árdal