The “Viva o Esporte” project offers classes focused on people with disabilities.
Sports for people with disabilities take center stage worldwide during the Paralympics. But beyond the medals, sports play a fundamental role in the inclusion and development of people with various types of disabilities, such as physical, motor, and intellectual disabilities.
In the “Viva o Esporte” project, a partnership between the Ramacrisna Institute and the Betim City Hall, this mission is taken seriously. Currently, the project serves 178 students, including children and adolescents with different types of disabilities, such as intellectual disabilities, ADHD, epilepsy, systemic sclerosis, Down syndrome, autism, schizophrenia, and oppositional defiant disorder, among others.
The activities are adapted and focus on both amateur and professional athletes. Here’s more about the initiative.
The “Viva o Esporte” project seeks not only to provide the experience of sports for people with disabilities but also to create a space where students can develop their motor and social skills, promoting a better quality of life. For many of these young people, sports are a powerful tool for overcoming challenges and achieving milestones that once seemed impossible.
In other words, the keyword of the project is inclusion. This is reflected in the variety of activities offered, ranging from conventional sports adapted to the specific needs of each student to high-level competitions.
The program includes specific groups for those who have difficulty integrating into conventional activities. For example, there are futsal classes for students with intellectual disabilities, as well as adapted physical activity, water aerobics, and athletics classes. The planning of activities aims to meet the individual needs of each student, ensuring that everyone can participate and benefit from sports.
In addition to daily classes, many of these students have excelled in national and international competitions. In the Paralympics, for example, some athletes from the project are among the top eight in Brazil in their categories. One of them is athlete Rayssa Mendonça, who has Down syndrome and won gold and bronze medals at the Virtus Global Games, the world’s largest competition for athletes with intellectual disabilities. In 2024, she shone again at the World Down Syndrome Athletics Championships in Turkey, winning gold in the javelin throw.
Other athletes, like Brunielle Torres and Lucas Vince, both with Down syndrome, have also stood out in major competitions, proudly representing Ramacrisna and Brazil. These results are the fruit of continuous and dedicated work, involving not only sports practice but also the development of an inclusive and welcoming environment.
Sports for people with disabilities are regulated by institutions like the IPC (International Paralympic Committee), which defines the types of disabilities eligible to participate in competitions like the Paralympic Games. However, the “Viva o Esporte” project goes beyond these categories, also working with other institutions such as the Special Olympics and the Brazilian Confederation of Intellectual Sports (CBDI), which have a more inclusive approach, allowing the participation of students with different levels of impairment.
The project’s coaching team works intensively, with daily training sessions from Monday to Friday, while the sports schools have classes twice a week. This constant effort has yielded results, with students standing out in various competitions, from school-level to international events.
The impact of “Viva o Esporte” goes far beyond medals. For many of these students, sports represent the achievement of motor skills they did not have the opportunity to develop during childhood. Each advancement, each new movement learned is a step toward a more independent and fulfilling life. As educators, there is a deep sense of gratitude in being able to share knowledge and witness the growth of these young people. Thus, sports become a powerful tool for transformation, promoting not only inclusion but also the building of a better future for all.
Vinícius Lima is one of the project’s instructors. He closely monitors the athletic activities for people with disabilities. “I am just very grateful to be able to share knowledge and follow their development. This group, in general, did not have motor encouragement for years, so each gain can improve their quality of life,” he says.
For 65 years, the Ramacrisna Institute has been working to improve the lives of millions of people in social vulnerability living in 12 cities in the Greater BH area. The projects include healthy, safe, and free options for leisure, sports, culture, education, professional training, and job placement.
Get to know the initiatives and help continue our work.
