A NUMBER of Australian and Indonesian wheelchair rugby athletes held an exhibition match at the UNJ Sports Hall in Jakarta, Friday (30/8). The exhibition was organized by the Australian Embassy.
The event features leading Australian Paralympic athletes including Sara Houston, Joshua Hose, Ken O’Brien and Nazim “Naz” Erdem, who won five gold medals at the London 2012 Paralympics and Rio 2016 Paralympics.
Public Relations Counselor of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, Chloe Ashbolt, stated that she was very pleased with the exhibition in Indonesia.
“As a sporting nation, I am delighted that Australia can make sport play a role in fostering a more inclusive society,” he said.
“In celebration of the Paralympics, this event shows that everyone can participate, compete and strive in sports,” he added.
Wheelchair rugby is an intense and dynamic sport that combines elements of handball, wheelchair basketball and rugby, and is a major highlight of the event.
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This sport emphasizes fast contact between players, emphasizing skill, strategy and a high level of competitive spirit.
During their visit to Indonesia, the Paralympic athletes not only demonstrated wheelchair rugby, but also participated in a series of activities such as coaching clinics and training in Jakarta, Bali and Eastern Indonesia.
The aim of this program, organised by the Bali Sports Foundation (BSF) and supported by the Australian Embassy, is to raise awareness about disability inclusive sport and inclusion.
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In addition, the athletes will visit SDI Harapan Ibu in South Jakarta as part of the Australia-Indonesia Bridge School Partnership Program.
This activity demonstrates the positive impact of inclusive sports on local communities, schools, sports organizations and Indonesian Paralympic athletes.
First Secretary and Public Diplomacy, Kris Maslin said, wheelchair rugby was chosen because it was considered very interesting and dynamic, and could show that individuals with disabilities could participate at the highest level in various aspects of life.
“It’s a really exciting sport, and it shows that no matter what your disability, you can participate at the highest level in a really exciting activity,” he said.
Not only that, Kris also revealed that this activity was carried out to welcome the 2024 Paris Paralympics. (Z-12)
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