Oleg Valenchuk: Sport is accessible to everyone

      The organizers of this unique event were the Kirov Region Judo Federation, the regional Ministry of Education and Ministry of Sports, as well as the regional Federations of Sport for Persons with Disabilities (LIN) and Sport for the Deaf. The festival began with a solemn parade of participants, attended by athletes from different parts of Russia. The participants were greeted by a State Duma deputy, president of the Kirov Region Judo Federation, Oleg Valenchuk. In his address he noted that the federation has for many years been actively engaged in attracting athletes with disabilities to judo. “Such a strong representation of teams from different regions speaks to the demand for competitions like this,” Oleg Valenchuk stressed. Special attention was paid to the team from the Donetsk People’s Republic, which, having endured hard times, was able to continue training. “We visited Kirov for the first time two years ago. Then the Kirov Region Judo Federation gave us the opportunity to live and train in the town of Sovetsk,” said Donetsk athlete Anna Levchenko. “Thank you for the warm welcome and for the chance to compete on the Kirov tatami. We believe in our common Victory!” The Kirov Region Judo Federation has been developing adaptive judo for more than 20 years. Over this time a strong material and technical base has been created and an experienced coaching staff formed. The pioneer was Honored Coach of Russia Igor Glubokovsky from Sovetsk. He has trained generations of athletes who have achieved success not only at the Russian but also at the international level. Among such athletes are Elena Svintsova, who became a silver medalist at the Deaflympic Games in Turkey; Anton Syuzev, who has repeatedly stood on the podium at nationwide championships; and, of course, our fellow countryman Mikhail Sidorov, champion of the Deaflympic Games in Bulgaria. “In the calendar our LIN judo athletes have only about three out-of-town competitions a year,” said coach Natalya Rodionova from the Lipetsk Region. “That is very little. It's important for the kids to learn to overcome nervousness, to calmly step onto the tatami in another city and to exchange experience with students from other schools. That is why we are glad to come to this festival for the second time. The organization is top-notch!” Adaptive judo is not just a sport; it is an opportunity for people with disabilities to realize their potential, develop physical strength and self-confidence. The festival became a platform for the exchange of experience, communication and support among participants. “I travel a lot around the country; I compete as an active athlete and am a two-time silver medalist at the Deaflympic Games, in 2009 and 2017. So I have something to compare,” noted athlete and coach from Samara Mila Slepysheva. “I want to express my gratitude to the Kirov Region Judo Federation and personally to Oleg Valenchuk for this celebration of sport.” The 2nd Adaptive Judo Festival in Kirov was an important step in the development of inclusive sport. It not only showcased the athletes’ achievements but also emphasized the importance of creating conditions for people with disabilities to engage in sport. Ahead lie new competitions, new victories and new success stories that will inspire future generations of athletes.