Globalworth Foundation funds Special Olympics Romania Foundation with 35,000 euros for the first digital solution that facilitates remote sports for children and youth with physical and intellectual disabilities in placement and residential centres.

What does this digital solution entail?

 The solution developed is based on a mix of technologies, so as to help remote communication and sports

• Each centre is equipped with a video conferencing communication kit, compatible with most platforms currently used (zoom, Microsoft teams, Google meet, live Facebook)
• Live training sessions benefit from a two-way visual and auditory experience due to the equipment: large diagonal display, state-of-the-art integrated video camera, high-performance sound system and laptop with internet connection

 With the help of this technology, over 350 children will participate in fitness exercises, online contests, learn to make correct movements and will interact remotely with both the virtual coach and other children from other placement and residential centres.

 The residential and placement centres where the digital sports solution was implemented are from Stefănești (Argeș), Târgu Jiu (Gorj county), Simeria (Hunedoara county), Piatra Neamț (Neamț county), Gura Humorului (Suceava county) and Băbeni (Vâlcea county).

Through the “Fitness and Smiles Championship” project, in addition to the weekly trainings, virtual fitness competitions will be organized in which children will be able to be evaluated in real-time by the referees.

All 100 physiotherapists and caregivers from the above-mentioned locations will benefit from remote training sessions to understand the stages of the project, but also how to work with materials and equipment provided by Special Olympics Romania Foundation through funding from the Globalworth Foundation.

On the occasion of the “Lighting for Inclusion” event, the Globalworth Foundation joined the Special Olympics International movement to eliminate discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities and illuminated its iconic building: Globalworth Tower, in red.

“In the current conditions imposed by the pandemic and social distancing, people with physical and intellectual disabilities in such centres have a much more difficult situation than people with disabilities living with their families: isolation, lack of social interaction and lack of access to recovery leading to depression and anxiety. The focus will be on fun digital lessons that will improve children’s well-being”, said Georgiana Iliescu, Chief Executive Officer of Globalworth Foundation.

“At Special Olympics, we want to bring together children and youth with intellectual disabilities on the sports field and improve their health and social skills. The pandemic has significantly changed the way we move, and it has been very difficult for children with disabilities to stay out of sight of everyone, in isolation. Through this project, we aim to reinvent the way of doing sports, to bring the virtual coach in each of the 6 centres in which we will work, with the help of technology”, said Viorel Mocanu, the Sports Manager of Special Olympics Romania.