Wheelchair football event promotes inclusion and community in Orihuela

Orihuela hosted the “A-Ball al Poble” event, an inclusive sports initiative aimed at promoting wheelchair football, fostering inclusion in the community, and inspiring young people to play sports and stay active. The event, which took place on the morning of Tuesday, April 21, combined different activities, including a motivational talk, a practical session where participants experienced this adapted sport, and an exhibition match.

A unique initiative that brought inclusive sports closer to the community

The event was a special and unique initiative that brought the inclusive sport of wheelchair football to Orihuela as a tool for inclusion, community building, and raising awareness. The programme, promoted by the Afric Sports Club in conjunction with the Polytechnic University of Valencia, and organised by the Orihuela Town Hall’s Department of Sports, was founded with the belief that “sport should be for everyone, without barriers,” according to the Orihuela Town Hall.

The event focused not only on watching wheelchair football, but experiencing it and understanding the techniques and athleticism that form part of the sport. The project also aims to continue beyond this event, creating opportunities for the future involvement of people with disabilities in sports, creating openings for participation among the residents of Orihuela.

The day was organised into three parts: the first was aimed at people with disabilities and reduced mobility, the second focused on students from educational centres with awareness-raising activities, and the third featured an exhibition match to encourage participation from attendees.

Aiming to reach more people across the Costa Blanca South

Project organizer Antonio Falcó explained that ‘A-Ball al Poble’ was created with the idea of bringing wheelchair football and inclusive sport to all the municipalities of the Valencian Community, especially to “those where it is more difficult for these types of initiatives to reach.” He highlighted that the objective is to bring this sport closer to the public and generate real opportunities for participation.

Orihuela, as a hotspot on the Costa Blanca South, was chosen as a strategic location to launch the programme in the province and will allow the event to reach other nearby municipalities. The residents of Orihuela showed up in droves to support the initiative, and show camaraderie for their neighbours who are athletes with disabilities and their families.