Since the early hours of the morning, thousands have flowed to the Port of Tel Aviv for the “Feeling Accessibility” happening of air, sea and land sports, which took place on Friday, April 28. The happening was the initiative of Access Israel in association with the Israeli Paralympic Committee, Israel Sports Association for the Disabled, Ministry of Culture and Sport, the Port of Tel Aviv and the Tel Aviv Municipality. At the beginning of the happening, approximately 600 students from primary schools in the Tel Aviv area arrived, passing through the various challenging stations and meeting people with disabilities. Throughout the event, exhibition games of wheelchair basketball, goalball, tennis, rugby, tandem cycling for the blind etc. were held.
Identifying with people with disabilities
The object of this festive event was to increase identification with people with disabilities. The event offered a close encounter with various disabilities and experiencing different handicapped sports as well as other fun and challenging activities simulating as much as possible the feeling of being disabled, while showing the great potential of people with disabilities.
At the height of the happening, a fleet of Challenges Association boats as well as aircrafts of the Israeli Light Sport Aircraft Association passed along and over the Herzliya and Tel Aviv shores in honor of people with disabilities.
Experiencing disabilities and disabled sports
This unique happening featured a large variety of awareness and experiencing compounds under the “you have to try to understand” slogan, where visitors could experience disability first hand, through blind ice cream tasting, wheelchair obstacle courses, blind walking, graffiti with no hands, sign language tattoos, exposure to hearing impairment and other activities. The event was made possible through the cooperation of many organizations and NPOs such as the Challenges Association, Shema, BeKol, MeHalev, Lighthouse etc.
In addition, exhibition games of disabled sports with audience participation took place during the happening: wheelchair basketball, goalball, tennis, rugby, tandem cycling for the blind and other surprises.
The central ceremony
The central ceremony in honor of Access Israel’s 18 years of activity was hosted by Eli Ildis, during which the quest to discover its “next star” of Israel’s Paralympic Sports, under which all disabled sporting activities are incorporated, was officially opened.
According to Access Israel’s chairman Yuval Wagner, “We Searched for an original way to promote accessibility and equality for people with disabilities. ‘Feeling accessibility in the air, the sea and on land’, is unique in Israel and around the world. The Port of Tel Aviv was chosen for its accessibility and wonderful sea and promenade ambiance. We are delighted to see a diverse audience of families, children, youth and athletes taking part in this extraordinary and educational event, having sporting, sensory and artistic experiences and meeting people with disabilities”.
Thanks:
All the partners and sponsors of the event,
The joint Access Israel and Paralympic Committee team who had worked tirelessly for many days to organize the event,
And especially:
Access Israel’s President Yuval Wagner
Access Israel’s CEO Michal Rimon
Head of Access Israel’s educational department Liat Ori
Access Israel’s instructors
Israel’s Paralympic Committee’s CEO Nissim Sasportas
Head of Atudot and Athena trainer Limor Goldberg
Events coordinator Chen Moran
Tel Aviv Municipality and its sports department
Port of Tel Aviv, the Atarim Company
Ministry of Culture & Sport and the head of the sport administration Ofer Bustan
Ministry of Education – Max Aviram and Liat Mazra for their help during the morning of experience for schools from around the country
Companies and organizations: Shema, the Blind Association, Lighthouse, Mehalev, Hydroflex, Eyal Tzippuyim, Yad Sara, Atarim. Bezeq, Harel, Amot, Tempo, Knafayim
Gadi Ulman
Doron Biton & Katrix Duo
Access Israel North – A.I.N
Access Israel – the Eilat and Arava district
Space for Independent Life in the Galilee and the Golan
Sweet Theater
Special thanks to the producer of this event Oranit Ben Dror of Events that Touch
Technical producer – Gil Biran and the Rakefet team
Team 3 – guarding and security
Shai Sagi of One Man Brand, in charge of all the professional design surrounding us
And a great heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers without whom this event could not have taken place!
See you in the 2018 Feeling Accessibility
To the event’s photo album click here
Photography: Guy Taieb
