The motto of the Paralympic Games “Spirit in Motion” says that determination is more important than results, and the heart is more powerful than the mind. It is perfectly clear that people with disabilities also need to do sports, that is, take up adequate physical activities. Their involvement in these activities is a prerequisite for the best possible adjustment to their changed living conditions. Experts claim that “physical activity primarily offers a psychomotor form of therapy to disabled people and only then the recreational aspect of a quality way of spending free time that is dominant among healthy people.”
Playing sports has multiple benefits and is certainly something worth encouraging, so in addition to improving mental health, it also enables socializing during exercise, which ultimately results in general satisfaction.
The citizens of Zagreb are proud that their city authorities continuously implement a comprehensive and unified policy towards people with disabilities, whose percentage is close to 12% of the city’s population, only slightly lower than the world average (15%). In other words, people with disabilities are the largest minority in the world, significantly represented both among the citizens of Zagreb and among visitors that come to the city.
For the latter, it is important that the hotel accommodation in Zagreb is adapted to their needs. If you are one of those sport enthusiasts with an extraordinary spirit, there is no doubt that sports and recreation mean a lot to you no matter where you are. If you started playing sports primarily for the purpose of rehabilitation and recovery, you have certainly accepted it as an everyday need and pleasure. You should know that the City of Zagreb is extremely supportive of this and it does everything to ensure that you do not miss your “daily dose of health” during your stay.
As many as 70 associations of persons with disabilities that work for their benefit are registered in the City of Zagreb. In addition, there are several national sports federations for people with disabilities, including specialized ones, such as the Blind Sports Association. The list of sports of these federations includes, for example, athletics, swimming, tennis, basketball, skiing, bocce, archery, table tennis, taekwondo, and even arm wrestling.
If you want to play one of these sports or participate in a competition during your stay in Zagreb, you can find all the necessary information, including contact persons, on the website of the Croatian Paralympic Committee or the Pristupačni Zagreb web site. You will be made welcome!